Our Senior Management

• George Odhiambo Managing Director

  George Odhiambo

  Managing Director

  George Odhiambo was appointed as the National Bank Managing Director in January 2023.

  Mr Odhiambo, a seasoned banker, was previously the MD BPR Bank Rwanda Plc since its inception following the merger between KCB Bank Rwanda and Banque Populaire du Rwanda. He was the immediate former Managing Director, KCB Bank Rwanda Limited. He joined KCB in 2009 as Head, Business Analytics, KCB Bank Kenya.

  He holds an MSc in Pure Mathematics and BSc in Mathematical Statistics from the University of Nairobi. He has also acquired several leadership certifications such as Practitioner Diploma in Executive Coaching and Postgraduate Diploma in Corporate Governance from the Academy of Executive Coaching, UK and the Centre for Corporate Governance & KCA University respectively.

  Mr Odhiambo is a member of the COMESA Business Council, Advisory Board and Chairs the Banking sub-Sector Committee and Patron African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Teachers Training Program Scholarship Fund - Rwanda.

• Bernadette Ngara Director Marketing, Corporate Affairs & Citizenship

  Bernadette Ngara

  Director Marketing, Corporate Affairs & Citizenship

  Ms. Ngara joined the Bank in 2014 as the Director, Marketing and Corporate Communications. She has in the past handled the Marketing and Corporate Communications and Corporate Citizenship as well as Sustainability Reporting in the banking industry.

  Ms Ngara has experience in advertising handling brands in the FMCG, NGO and service industries. She has worked in the banking industry in different markets including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Nigeria.

  She has over 20 years working experience in the banking sector and is a dynamic, passionate and customer-centric marketing communications specialist. Working in diverse industries from Manufacturing to banking (both local and international), she has brought life to both new and existing brands. She has particular expertise in Strategic Marketing Management, PR, CSR, Customer Analytics and Digital Marketing.

  Bernadette has attended several executive leadership courses through Raiser Resource Group for Crestcom International, Cambridge University and Strathmore Business School. She holds an MA in International Marketing from University of Central England and is a Chartered Marketer (CIM).

• Zablon Jowi Director, Internal Audit

  Zablon Jowi

  Director, Internal Audit

  Mr. Jowi joined the Bank in November 2016. He has over 15 years’ working experience in Internal Audit, having served in various organizations including Commercial Bank of Africa, I&M Bank, and Gulf African Bank where he was Assistant General Manager in-charge of Internal Audit department before joining National Bank.

  He holds a Master of Business Administration (Strategic Management) from the University of Nairobi and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (Accounting) degree from United States International University (USIU).

  He is also a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK), Institute of Internal Auditors and ISACA.

• John D. Ojalla Director, Risk

  John D. Ojalla

  Director, Risk

  John joined the Bank in June 2020. He has 15 years’ experience in enterprise risk management and compliance. He holds MBA (Finance) and Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degrees, both from the University of Nairobi.

  He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA – K), Certified Securities and Investment Analyst (CSIA -K), Certified in Risk and Information Systems Control (CRISC) and holds Global Association of Risk Professionals certification. John is a member of the Information Systems and Control Association (ISACA) and the Global Association of Risk Professionals.

  Before joining the Bank, he worked at KCB Bank as Head of Operational Risk. He previously worked in various capacities in the group, as Head of Risk, KCB Bank Burundi and Manager Internal Audit.

• Jacqueline W. Kahome Treasurer

  Jacqueline W. Kahome

  Treasurer

  Jacqueline joined the bank in June 2020. She has over 16 years of experience in Treasury management. She is responsible for overseeing treasury objectives for the bank. Prior to joining the bank, Jacqueline was the Head of FX Corporate and Institution sales at KCB-Kenya. She previously worked in various roles in Treasury at KCB group as Senior Manager and FX sales dealer. She has vast experience in general bank leadership, Corporate sales, Asset liability management and Fixed income portfolio management.

  She holds a Master's in Business administration from Jomo-Kenyatta university and a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Banking and Finance option from Africa Nazarene University. She is a member of the Financial Markets Association of Kenya ( ACI Kenya)

• Stephen Gathongo Director, Credit

  Stephen Gathongo

  Director, Credit

  Mr. Gathongo joined the Bank in November 2016. He holds an MBA (Finance) of from University of Leicester - UK and Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Nairobi.

  He also holds professional qualifications in ACIB - London and CPA - Kenya. Stephen has over 25 years working experience in the field of Credit Management. Prior to joining the Bank, he worked as a Senior Manager Credit at KCB. 

  Previously, he worked at Barclays Bank in various positions and at KCB Uganda as Head of Corporate Banking and Head of Credit where he set up the Credit and Corporate Banking functions (for Uganda), centralized credit approvals, credit administration and securitisation process.

• Samuel Mundia Director, Legal Services

  Samuel Mundia

  Director, Legal Services

  Samuel has over 20 years legal and corporate governance experience in the banking industry having previously worked at Southern Credit Banking Corporation in Kenya. He has a wealth of experience in Management, Commercial, Legal and Governance and has gained extensive knowledge and experience in leading teams.

  Samuel holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Degree from the University of Nairobi, a Diploma in law from the Kenya School of Law and is currently completing a Master of Laws (LLM) degree in International Financial Law from Strathmore University, Nairobi. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB. Hons.) and a Higher Diploma from the Institute for the Management of Information Systems (IMIS) through Strathmore University. He has attended various professional management and corporate governance capacity building courses. He is an active member of the Institute of Certified Secretaries (ICS) and the Law Society of Kenya (LSK). He currently serves as the company secretary for the 2 subsidiaries of the Bank.