Kihara Maina is a businessman and the current CEO of I&M Bank Kenya Limited.
I&M Bank Kenya is the largest subsidiary of I&M Group, ann East African financial services conglomerate with presence in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Mauritius.
Maina assumed the position in 2016 following the retirement of Arun Mathur.
Here is his story as told by WoK.
Background and Education
Maina was born in 1969, and attended a local school in his home area for his preparatory and primary school education.
He graduated from primary school and joined Alliance Boys’ High School where he spent four years.
In 1987, Maina graduated from Alliance with a High School Diploma in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry.
He later joined Moi University in Kesses, Eldoret for his Bchelor of Science degree in Mathematics and Statistics.
He graduated in 1991.
Maina later enrolled at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business for a Master of Business Administration degree which he was awarded in 2009.
He has a wife of 19 years and two children: a boy and a girl.
Career
Maina started working in 1993, a year after graduating from Moi University, when he was hired by Stanbic Bank.
In a past interview, he noted that he applied for the job after seeing an advert for management trainees at the bank.
“As I joined banking, my interest was to apply my learning in computer sciences, because obviously there is great opportunity for innovation in banking. Banking is one of the most progressive industries; very early adopters of technology,” he said.
After his stint at Stanbic Bank, Maina joined Barclays Bank, currently known as Absa Bank Kenya.
At Barclays, he served in various roles including the Head of Trading at the bank and the Regional Treasurer responsible for functions at Barclays subsidiaries in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
He also served as the managing director and Chief Executive Officer of Barclays Bank of Tanzania, a role he held until his exit in 2016.
Maina left Barclays Bank to join I&M Bank Kenya as the new CEO, replacing Arun Mathur who had just retired.
