When John Gachora assumed leadership as Group Managing Director (GMD) and CEO of NCBA Bank Group, he brought more than decades of banking experience. Gachora brought his commitment to integrity, authenticity, and ethical leadership.
Born in 1968 in Gatamaiyu Village, Kenya, Gachora was the 8th of 13 kids in a tea-farming family. He went to Kamahindu Primary then to Alliance High School, where his academic excellence earned him a spot in a U.S. exchange program at Brooks School in Massachusetts.
John Gachora pursued higher education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), obtaining both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He furthered his education with an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Gachora began his professional journey on Wall Street as Vice President at Credit Suisse, where he was involved in developing financial models for collateralized debt obligations (CDOs). He later joined Bank of America Securities as Managing Director and Group Head of Investment Banking, becoming the first Kenyan to hold such a position on Wall Street.
In 2009, he returned to Africa to lead Absa Capital’s African operations, focusing on expanding the bank’s footprint across the continent. His leadership was instrumental in formulating strategies for growth in various African markets. In 2013, Gachora was appointed Group Managing Director and CEO of NIC Bank Group. He played a pivotal role in the 2019 merger that created NCBA Group, now one of Kenya’s largest banks by assets.
Under his watch, NCBA has transformed into one of East Africa’s most respected banking groups, not only by growing its digital and retail footprint, but by instilling a culture of trust, transparency, and people-first decision-making. Gachora’s leadership isn’t just a corporate success story — it’s a masterclass in values-driven transformation.
Grounded in Integrity
“Integrity is not optional. It is the bedrock of lasting impact,” says John Gachora. This mindset has shaped how NCBA does business at every level. As Chairman of the Kenya Bankers Association, he has led calls for greater transparency, stronger ethics, and responsible lending across the sector.
During the 2019 merger of NIC Bank and Commercial Bank of Africa, he ensured customers and staff were informed, involved, and supported throughout the transition. Transparent communication built confidence in the new NCBA brand and helped it navigate one of the region’s most complex banking integrations smoothly.
Building Trust in a Digital Age
Despite leading one of Kenya’s most digitally advanced banks, home to the country’s highest-rated banking app and M-Shwari digital loans, John Gachora has consistently cautioned that trust remains central. “We have not reached a point where people fully trust nonphysical interactions,” he said in an interview. That’s why NCBA continues to invest in physical branches as spaces of reassurance and trust-building.
Since the merger, the bank has opened 26 new branches, particularly designed to serve SMEs and high-touch customers. Relationship managers are trained not just to sell, but to solve — delivering the kind of personal support that digital tools can’t always provide.
Recently, he was instrumental in the acquisition of AIG Insurance in a move to further strengthening its position in the financial services industry.
Training for Trust
In collaboration with Strathmore Business School, Gachora launched a groundbreaking Relationship Manager Training Program. The initiative empowers NCBA employees with academic theory, real-world simulations, and deep customer insight techniques. His goal? To embed a “customer obsession” culture that makes every client interaction thoughtful, data-informed, and authentically human.
“We are building not just a workforce, but a team of trust ambassadors,” Gachora said during the launch. It’s a long-term investment in the people who shape NCBA’s frontline experience — and by extension, its reputation.
Ethical Leadership in Crisis
NCBA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was another defining chapter. While many banks retrenched and tightened credit, Gachora’s NCBA restructured over KSh 80 billion in loans and set aside KSh 18 billion in provisions to support customers through the uncertainty.
This was not just crisis management — it was ethical leadership in action. NCBA’s decision to stand by its clients sent a powerful message: the bank is here for the long haul, not just the profit cycle.
Authenticity as a Strategic Asset
Known by many as “The Storytelling CEO,” Gachora shares his humble roots, personal setbacks, and global journey as a way of connecting with people inside and outside the bank. This rare authenticity has made NCBA’s leadership more relatable and accessible, especially to younger employees and customers seeking more than just transactional relationships with their banks.
Authentic storytelling has also become part of NCBA’s brand narrative — making it feel like a community partner rather than a distant financial institution.
Values as Drivers of Growth
John Gachora’s leadership at NCBA proves that values are not abstract ideals but powerful drivers of growth, resilience, and loyalty. From fostering transparent communication and ethical decisions to balancing technology with human relationships, his approach offers a model for what 21st-century banking leadership should look like.
In a financial world that often prizes short-term gains, Gachora stands apart. His legacy is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: NCBA’s rise is not just a result of good strategy — it’s a result of great values.
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