Guaranty Trust Bank (Kenya) Limited has appointed Irene Irungu as its Acting Managing Director, effective October 29, 2026, following regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Kenya.
She succeeded Jubril Adeniji, who left the lender after his tenure expired and was recalled to the parent company in Nigeria.
The appointment came less than a month after Irungu was named the bank’s Head of Operations on October 7, 2026. Before taking up that position, she served as Head of Risk and Compliance, a role she assumed when she joined GTBank Kenya in May 2023.
Irungu brings more than 13 years of experience in the financial services sector, with expertise in banking operations, enterprise risk management and regulatory compliance.
Her career began as an Operations Officer at Imperial Bank before she joined Stima Sacco Society Ltd, where she spent more than five years as an Operations Risk and Compliance Officer.
She holds a degree in Finance and is pursuing a Master of Business Administration in Strategic Management at Kenyatta University. She is also a Certified Fraud Examiner and a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, qualifications relevant to investigating and preventing financial crimes.
Her professional affiliations include membership in She Leads Tech under ISACA Kenya, associate membership in the Kenya Institute of Bankers, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and the Association of Anti-Money Laundering Specialists.
Beyond her banking career, Irungu has interests in SME development and empowering women entrepreneurs.
The bank’s board announced her appointment in a statement, confirming that the Central Bank of Kenya had approved her assumption of the acting leadership position.
“The Board of Directors of Guaranty Trust Bank (Kenya) Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Irene Irungu as the Acting Managing Director, effective 29th October 2026, following regulatory approval by the Central Bank of Kenya”.
The board also expressed confidence in working with Irungu to advance the lender’s strategic objectives and strengthen its market position.
“As we look ahead, we remain committed to working together under her leadership to advance our shared vision, strengthen the GTBank brand and create greater value for our customers and stakeholders”.
The bank further congratulated Irungu on her appointment and wished her success in her new responsibilities.
“The Board, management, and staff of Guaranty Trust Bank (Kenya) Limited warmly congratulate Ms Irene Irungu on her appointment and wish her every success in her new role”.
Adeniji had led GTBank Kenya since 2023, having previously served as the pioneer Managing Director of GTBank Tanzania.
He joined GTBank in Nigeria in February 2006 and held senior commercial and international banking positions before being assigned to support the group’s entry into Tanzania in 2015.
His departure was announced in July 2026, with the bank stating that he would remain in office for 90 days to facilitate a seamless handover as the board sought regulatory approval for his successor.
During his tenure, the bank credited him with strengthening its governance and shareholding structure, improving loan portfolio quality, enhancing internal controls and implementing a strategic growth plan.
Financial results during his leadership presented a mixed picture. Gross non-performing loans declined significantly from Ksh2.72 billion in 2024 to Ksh1.03 billion at the end of 2025.
Customer deposits also increased by 8.2 per cent year-on-year to Ksh19.27 billion in March 2026.
However, the bank’s total assets contracted by 8.7 per cent to Ksh31.34 billion, while profit after tax fell by 38.3 per cent to Ksh80.5 million in the first quarter of 2026.
