Yusuf Omari

Yusuf is a seasoned financial services leader with over 27 years of experience across audit, finance, sustainability, compliance, and corporate governance. The Absa Bank Kenya Board appointed him Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer on 10 September 2026, confirming him in the role he had held on an interim basis since 1 July 2026, when he stepped up from Chief Financial Officer. He leads the bank's strategy, performance, and transformation agenda, driving sustainable growth and long-term value creation for customers, shareholders, and communities.

A strong advocate for sustainable finance, Yusuf has championed the growth of Absa's sustainable finance portfolio and supported the bank's transition towards its net-zero ambitions. Throughout his career he has played a key role in strengthening operational efficiency, governance, and financial performance.

His professional experience includes serving as Head of Compliance at KPMG Kenya and as a board member of University of Nairobi Enterprise Services Ltd. He is also a Director and Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and a Member of The Institute of Internal Auditors Kenya, among other professional affiliations.

Yusuf holds a degree from the University of Nairobi and an MBA from Strathmore Business School. A respected thought leader, he regularly shares insights on finance, governance, and sustainability through platforms such as CNBC Africa, CGTN, and the Strathmore University Centre for Value Investing, among other high-level forums.

His leadership has contributed to several industry recognitions for Absa, including the Kenya Bankers Association Excellence in Financial Leadership Award, the CFO East Africa Compliance & Governance Award, Sustainable Finance Initiative Awards, and FiRe Awards for Financial Reporting. He combines a vision for sustainable growth with a commitment to financial innovation, driving transformative impact across Kenya's financial sector and beyond.

Yusuf joins Bullish Africa's roster of global leaders shaping the conversation on capital, governance, and Africa's next chapter at the upcoming summit.