Kin Kariisa named non-executive director at Standard Chartered Bank

KAMPALA, Uganda — Standard Chartered Bank Uganda has appointed Kin Kariisa as a non-executive director to help guide the institution’s strategy in digital transformation, cyber resilience and artificial intelligence.

Sanjay Rughani, the bank’s chief executive, said Kariisa’s background in technology and risk management is vital as the financial sector rapidly evolves. Rughani noted that the appointment comes at a time when digital operations and cybersecurity have become critical to banking stability.

We are very privileged that Kin brings a new set of skills and competency to allow us to scale on our ambitions, Rughani said. He added that the bank is looking to strengthen its governance and AI-driven services as customers increasingly move away from traditional branch banking.

Kariisa, who also serves as the CEO of Next Media Group, said he sees significant parallels between the media industry and the modern banking sector. He described banking as a 24-hour operation that now lives on mobile devices rather than in physical buildings.

It is a privilege and an honor to serve in an environment where I feel I can add value, Kariisa said.

Beyond digital innovation, Kariisa noted that the bank must play a central role in supporting Uganda’s large-scale infrastructure and energy sectors. He pointed to the massive investments in oil and gas as a primary reason for strengthening the nation’s financial institutions.

We are investing in huge projects, Kariisa said. We had never done projects where you spend like $3 billion or $4 billion on one project, but now when you go to oil and gas, you will see projects of $6 billion and $7 billion.