• Bank accelerates growth strategy, targeting profitability and East Africa expansion
• Appointment follows losses widening in first half of 2025

Commercial International Bank (CIB) Kenya, a subsidiary of Egypt’s Commercial International Bank, has appointed Tirus Mwithiga as managing director, with effect from February 2026 pending regulatory approval from Kenya’s central bank and Egypt’s central bank. He will replace Abhinav Nehra, who has held the role since April 2024.

The appointment comes as CIB Kenya steps up its growth plans, aiming to deepen customer relationships, expand digital services, improve operational efficiency and broaden its income base. The bank said it wants to become a profitable regional hub in East Africa, supporting trade between Kenya and Egypt and the group’s regional expansion.

Mwithiga has more than 35 years of banking experience and has held senior roles at major lenders in Kenya before taking up international assignments, including in East Africa and Singapore. He previously worked at Barclays and Standard Chartered. He is a chartered banker and holds an MBA from Bangor University in the United Kingdom. CIB Kenya said he has experience in corporate and retail banking, strategic execution, organisational transformation and talent management.

Before joining CIB Kenya, Mwithiga served as group director for corporate and investment banking at NCBA Group from February 2025. In that role, he oversaw the lender’s largest banking portfolio and led teams providing corporate banking and transaction services to large companies in Kenya and across East Africa.

“As CIB Kenya enters a critical phase of strategic execution, this appointment reflects our continued focus on strengthening leadership capacity to drive sustainable growth and deliver long-term value to our customers and stakeholders,” the bank said.

CIB Kenya reported net losses in the first half of 2025, according to unaudited financial statements. It posted a loss after tax of 155.8 million Kenyan shillings ($1.2 million) in the three months to March 31, widening to 310.1 million shillings in the six months to June 30.

Sandrine Gaingne