Standard Bank Group Reshuffles Regional Leadership: Oigara Succeeds Mweheire as East Africa Chief, Francis Karuhanga to Lead South & Central Africa

Standard Bank Group has announced a significant leadership realignment across its Africa Regions portfolio, appointing new Regional Chief Executives (RCEs) to spearhead growth in key markets and drive greater operational integration.

Effective September 1, 2025—subject to regulatory approval—Dr. Joshua Oigara will assume the role of Regional Chief Executive for East Africa, taking over from Patrick Mweheire, who concludes a successful five-year tenure at the end of August. In parallel, Francis Karuhanga, CEO of Stanbic Uganda Holdings, has been named Regional Chief Executive for South and Central Africa, further strengthening the Group’s leadership capacity across the continent.

Patrick Mweheire Hands Over a High-Performing East Africa Franchise

Since 2020, Mweheire has overseen Standard Bank Group’s operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, transforming East Africa into the Group’s second most profitable region.

His leadership has been credited with expanding the regional client base, fostering cross-border collaboration, and deepening relationships with multinational and regional corporates. Prior to this, Mweheire served as CEO of Stanbic Bank Uganda, where he delivered a market-leading turnaround.

While stepping down from his RCE role, Mweheire will remain CEO of Stanbic Kenya Holdings, providing continuity and ongoing strategic input.

Dr. Joshua Oigara to Drive East Africa’s Next Growth Phase

Dr. Oigara, who currently serves as CEO of Stanbic Bank Kenya, has built a strong reputation for driving innovation, expanding digital banking capabilities, and fostering deep, value-driven relationships with clients. In his new dual capacity, he will retain leadership of the Kenyan business while also taking on overarching responsibility for the Group’s East Africa portfolio. This expanded role places him at the center of efforts to shape the region’s strategic direction and deliver sustained growth.

Under his stewardship, the focus will be on developing and executing integrated regional strategies that not only improve operational efficiency but also sharpen the Group’s competitive edge. A key element of this agenda will be the acceleration of digital adoption, with a particular emphasis on leveraging mobile and online platforms to transform customer experience and broaden access to banking services. In addition, Dr. Oigara will lead initiatives to boost cross-border trade, aligning closely with the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to facilitate smoother commercial flows and strengthen the region’s role in intra-African commerce.

Francis Karuhanga to Oversee South & Central Africa

Karuhanga’s appointment as RCE for South and Central Africa extends his leadership remit to a diverse and strategically important set of markets. With over two decades of experience in banking and financial services, including serving as Standard Bank Group’s Chief Audit Officer, he brings deep institutional knowledge and a proven ability to lead through complexity.

He will continue to head Stanbic Uganda Holdings during the transition period, ensuring operational stability while executing his expanded regional responsibilities.

A Leadership Strategy for Continental Scale

These leadership appointments are closely aligned with Standard Bank Group’s long-term ambition to establish seamless, high-performing regional hubs that can effectively harness scale, technology, and talent across borders. The Group’s approach is to entrust senior executives with a dual mandate—combining direct oversight of specific country operations with wider regional responsibilities. This structure is intended to bring greater agility to decision-making at the regional level, enabling faster responses to shifting market conditions and emerging opportunities. It is also designed to deepen collaboration between markets, allowing teams to share expertise, align strategies, and unlock synergies that would be difficult to achieve in isolation.

At the same time, the Group sees these regional hubs as platforms for accelerating digital-led growth, placing customer-focused innovation at the heart of its service delivery. By integrating technology-driven solutions across multiple markets, Standard Bank aims to enhance client experience, streamline processes, and open new revenue streams. Ultimately, the expectation is that these leadership changes will help drive sustainable profitability, even in the face of diverse economic realities and complex regulatory environments, ensuring the Group remains competitive and resilient across Africa.