BY PETER KARANJA
Paul Russo joined Mang’u High School in 1991 as a Form 1 – and left four years later in 1994.
Russo who chewed books at Mang’u, had no idea that 30 years later he would be head Kenya’s largest bank by asset – The Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).
Russo was appointed on March 24 as the new KCB CEO – replacing Joshua Oigara who had been at the bank helm for nearly 10 years.
“The board acknowledges Joshua’s immense contribution in driving the Growth of the Group business over the decade.
“He has been instrumental in deepening financial inclusion and social impact across East Africa,” the bank said in a statement.
Russo emerged top in a competitive process that began in March 2022.
Russo who studied Business Management at Moi University before studying for an MBA and Strategic Management at Strathmore University between 1996 and 2009 was the Managing Director of the National Bank of Kenya, a subsidiary of KCB, and the Group’s Regional Business Director.
Oigara who is set to retire oversaw KCB’s regional expansion to Tanzania and Rwanda.
It was Oigara who oversaw the acquisition of the National Bank of Kenya (NBK) – which Russo headed.