Mr Alex Darko, a Ghanaian and Mr Francis Okomo-Okello from Kenya have been appointed as independent non-executive directors to the Board of Barclays Africa Group with effect from October 1, 2014.

Mr Darko is a seasoned executive with over 30 years international management experience.  He holds an MSc in management information systems (MIS) and is a fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants.

He held senior positions in finance, re-engineering, change management and IT in Europe, the USA and Africa, in areas such as business information, publishing, mining and the public sector.  Mr Darko was Vice President, Knowledge and Information (Chief Information Officer) at AngloGold Ashanti Limited (from 2005 to 2010), responsible for the group’s Information Systems and Telecommunications function. 

He also serves on the boards of Business Connexion Limited, Consolidated Infrastructure Group Limited and Mazor Group Limited. 

Mr Okomo-Okello is the current chairman of Barclays Bank of Kenya.

He holds an LLB Honours degree from the University of Dar-es-Salaam and is an Albert Parvin fellow of Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University, and a fellow of The Kenya Institute of Bankers.

He serves as chairman of TPS Eastern Africa Limited (Serena Group of Hotels and Lodges), and as a non-executive director of the Nation Media Group.   Currently, Mr Okomo-Okello is the Executive Director in charge of Legal and Corporate Affairs at Industrial Promotion Services Group of Companies, an affiliate of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development.

He also serves as a member of the Advisory Board of the Strathmore Business School, Strathmore University, Nairobi and is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Aga Khan University, Faculty of Arts and Sciences – East Africa.  

“Shareholders are further advised that Brand Pretorius will step down from the Board on 31 October 2014.  Brand has been a director since 2009, serving as chairman of the Group Remuneration and Human Resources Committee (GRHRC) and as a member of the Directors’ Affairs Committee and the Social and Ethics Committee.  Mohamed Husain will succeed Brand as chairman of the GRHRC”, release from the bank stated. 

Group Chairman, Wendy Lucas-Bull, said in line with the  Group’s intention to appoint two additional Board members to reflect its Pan-African nature, she is excited Mr Okomo-Okello and Mr Darko have been appointed to the board.

“They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise and we look forward to their contributions.  I also wish to thank Brand for his dedication, insight and wisdom during his tenure on the Board.  Brand has decided to dedicate more time to both his community work and his family.  He has made a significant contribution to both Absa and Barclays Africa Group and we shall miss his counsel when he leaves us at the end of October”, she said.