StanChart Names Nigerian Banker Dalu Ajene as its New Africa CEO Replacing Kenya’s Kariuki Ngari Standard Chartered has appointed Nigerian banker Dalu Ajene as CEO for Africa, succeeding Kariuki Ngari who has been serving in a dual role as Africa CEO and Kenya chief executive, while naming Biju Sanghrajka as incoming StanChart Kenya CEO.

Standard Chartered Bank has announced a series of top leadership changes across its African operations, naming Nigerian banker Dalu Ajene as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for Africa. 

The appointment comes amid the impending retirement of Kariuki Ngari, who has been serving in a dual role as Africa CEO and Kenya chief executive. Biju Sanghrajka has been appointed as Ngari’s successor in Kenya.

Dalu Ajene appointed CEO, Africa

On January 20, 2026, Standard Chartered announced the appointment of Dalu Ajene as Chief Executive Officer for Africa, with dual responsibilities as Head of Coverage for Africa. 

In this role, Ajene will oversee the bank’s operations across the continent, driving strategy, growth, and client engagement across Corporate & Investment Banking as well as Wealth & Retail Banking.

Until this appointment, Ajene served as CEO of Standard Chartered Nigeria, a position he assumed in April 2024. 

During his tenure, he led the Nigerian franchise to strong year-on-year financial performance, including successfully meeting the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation requirement of ₦200 billion for national commercial banks, well ahead of the March 2026 deadline.

 Prior to joining Standard Chartered, Ajene was CEO of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria.

Ajene brings over 25 years’ experience in the global financial services sector. His appointment underscores Standard Chartered’s emphasis on leadership continuity, performance, and regional expertise. 

Commenting on his new role, Ajene said he was deeply honoured to take on broader responsibilities across Africa, noting that the transition reflects the strength and resilience of the bank’s African franchise.

He highlighted Standard Chartered’s continued role as a key partner in trade finance, structured solutions, and development finance, leveraging technology to deliver client-centric services anchored on trust. 

Ajene said he looks forward to working closely with teams across Africa to accelerate growth, mobilise catalytic capital, and create sustainable value for clients, stakeholders, and communities.

Ajene holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is widely regarded as a leader passionate about building high-performance cultures centred on people empowerment and strong financial outcomes.

He takes over the Africa CEO role from Kariuki Ngari, who also oversaw the Africa coverage portfolio.

Kariuki Ngari to retire as Kenya CEO

In a separate public announcement dated January 21, 2026, the Board of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited confirmed that Kariuki Ngari will retire as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer on April 16, 2026, bringing to a close a distinguished 24-year career with the bank.

Ngari was appointed MD and CEO in March 2019 and is credited with leading a major transformation of the Kenyan franchise. 

Under his leadership, the bank significantly accelerated its digital shift, with over 90% of transactions now completed digitally. Shareholders benefited from strong and resilient financial performance during his tenure.

He also spearheaded the repositioning of Wealth and Retail Banking, transforming it from a traditional savings-focused segment into a leading wealth-focused business with world-class products and expertise. 

This shift was reflected in a significant increase in the bank’s Assets Under Management (AUM), bringing them in line with deposits held.

Beyond financial performance, Ngari played a central role in advancing the bank’s sustainability and community impact agenda, aligning initiatives with global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards.

 Flagship programmes in employment and entrepreneurship deepened the bank’s role as a trusted community partner.

Notably, participation in the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon increased by 78% during his tenure, while fundraising for Futuremakers initiatives grew by 76% to a record KES 76 million.

The Board expressed its sincere gratitude to Ngari for his exemplary and transformative leadership, noting the profound and lasting impact he has had on the bank, and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Biju Sanghrajka appointed CEO, Kenya

Following Ngari’s announced retirement, the Board also confirmed the appointment of Biju Sanghrajka as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Limited, subject to regulatory approvals. Sanghrajka will also serve as Head of Coverage for Kenya.

Sanghrajka is currently the Head of Corporate and Investment Banking Coverage, Kenya, and has been an Executive Director on the Board since July 2021. 

He brings over 26 years of experience with Standard Chartered, having held senior roles across Kenya, the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

His career has been marked by strong client relationships, cross-border expertise, and a proven track record of building high-performing teams, delivering innovative solutions, and driving sustained performance. 

The Board said these qualities position him well to lead the Kenyan business into its next phase of sustainable, value-driven growth, succeeding Ngari.

Sanghrajka holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Business Economics and Finance from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

Announcing the appointment, the Board congratulated Sanghrajka and expressed confidence in his ability to successfully steer the bank through its next phase of growth.