Stanbic Holdings Plc has named Joshua Oigara as its next chief executive, replacing Patrick Mweheire who will retire at the end of February, in a transition that tightens Standard Bank Group’s grip on its East African operations as broader succession questions loom at the Johannesburg-based lender.
- •The Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed financial services provider said Mweheire will step down as chief executive and director on February 28, 2026 after nearly six years in charge.
- •Oigara, currently Standard Bank’s regional chief executive for East Africa, will assume the Stanbic role from March 1, subject to regulatory approvals.
- •He oversees operations across Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, South Sudan and Ethiopia and will combine the Kenya chief executive position with his regional mandate.
The board said Mweheire provided “decisive leadership in the execution of the Company’s strategic priorities” and credited him with delivering “consistent growth and sustainable value creation.” He will remain within Standard Bank Group in a senior executive capacity.
The board said it was confident that Oigara’s “proven track record in banking sector transformation, regional market development, and financial inclusion will position the Company for its next phase of growth.” His appointment places one of Kenya’s most prominent banking executives at the helm of Standard Bank’s largest East African subsidiary.
Oigara previously served as group chief executive of KCB Group Plc for a decade, where he led regional expansion and cross-border integration. A certified public accountant, he holds an MBA in International Business Management and has completed the Advanced Management Programme at IMD in Switzerland.
Mweheire joined Stanbic Kenya as chief executive in March 2020 after leading Stanbic Bank Uganda. He steered the lender through the Covid-19 shock and the subsequent recovery period, reinforcing its corporate and investment banking franchise and aligning more closely with the parent group’s continental strategy.
The leadership change comes weeks before Stanbic Holdings is expected to release its full-year 2025 results next month, placing added focus on continuity at the top as investors assess earnings momentum and balance sheet strength.
It also follows a recent visit to Nairobi by Standard Bank Group Chief Executive Simpiwe Tshabalala, who met senior policymakers and Stanbic executives amid heightened attention on East Africa. Tshabalala is expected to step down at the end of 2027, with the Johannesburg-based board overseeing a structured succession process.
