Ireneus Gichana

A dynamic and seasoned Chief Executive Officer and transformational leader with over 25 years of experience in leading, managing and overseeing commercial banking and microfinance banking operations. I have successfully risen in ranks in my career to being a highly capable change-agent who consistently refines and revitalizes strategies, initiates change and facilitates solutions driven in team collaboration in the microfinance sector. 

Moreover, I can process and convert ideas into action quickly with great results. The positions I have held in management have refined my expertise in; strategic management, general management, operations management, microfinance banking, digital banking/innovations, and human resource management, among others. 

Given board membership experience, I have also excelled in providing leadership to different Boards promoting effective communication with relevant stakeholders, contributing to the development of strategic plans, and establishment of good corporate governance practices and procedures. Being a great communicator and leader, I have been exposed to stakeholder management and partnerships within various sectors.

Ireneus is a dynamic and seasoned Chief Executive Officer and transformational leader with over 25 years of experience in leading, managing and overseeing commercial banking and microfinance banking operations. 

He is a seasoned banker with a working experience in both microfinance and conventional banking spanning over 25 years.  He joined Maisha Microfinance Bank Limited (a deposit taking microfinance bank licensed/regulated by Central Bank of Kenya.) in September 2015 as Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director.  Previously Ireneus worked at Faulu Microfinance Bank Limited as Head of Operations between 2010 and September 2015.

He has previously worked with Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya Limited in various positions, including Head of Branch Operations and Service Delivery responsible for the branch network, as well as Risk Enhancement Project Manager-East Africa.

Currently, he serves as a board member of Credit Information Sharing Association of Kenya (CIS Kenya), and is a former board member of Association of Microfinance Institutions of Kenya (AMFI-Kenya). 

Ireneus is at the moment pursuing Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) in Business Management, Moi University. He holds a Masters of Banking and Finance (Microfinance Option), Masters of Business Administration (Strategic Management) and   a B.A. degree (Technology Management Studies option). He is certified by the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management as both an International Certified SME Finance Expert and Certified Expert in Risk Management, and is a CPA Part I holder.