James Mwangi
James Mwangi | |
---|---|
Group CEO, Equity Group Holdings | |
Partner | Jane Njuguna[2] |
Children | 3 |
James Mwangi (born 1962)
As the CEO of
Early life and education
Mwangi was born in Kangema, in Kenya's Central Province, circa 1962. With his father having been killed in the Mau Mau conflict, his six siblings were raised by their widowed mother, Grace Wairimu. He witnessed the struggles in his family and community at an early age to make a livelihood, which inspired him to better his circumstances. Mwangi credits his mother for instilling the virtues of discipline, hard work, giving back to society, and humility from a tender age.[7]
He attended Nyagatugu Primary School in Kangema Village, going on to attend Ichagaki Secondary School on a government scholarship. He attended Kagumo High School for his A-level education, where he studied economics, English literature, and geography. He joined the University of Nairobi, graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce degree, after which he sat and passed the Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPAK) examinations.[8] He is also a graduate of the advanced management programme at the IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain.[9]
Mwangi holds five honorary doctorate degrees, a Doctor of Business Administration from Kenya Methodist University, Doctor of Humane Letters from Kenyatta University, and Doctor of Entrepreneurship from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.[10] He also has a Doctor of Business Management (Honours Causa) from Meru University of Science and Technology[11][12] and a Doctorate of Letters from Africa Nazarene University.
Career
Mwangi began his career in banking as an auditor at
In 2006, Equity Bank listed on the
In 2020, Equity Bank was granted approval to merge two subsidiaries (Equity Bank Congo (EBC) and Banque Commercial du Congo (BCDC)) in the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC). The two subsidiaries formed a new bank by the name Equity Banque Commercial du Congo (Equity BCDC) which made it the second largest bank in DRC.[22]
He also serves as a guest lecturer at Stanford University, Columbia University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, IESE Business School, and Lagos Business School.[9]
Mwangi has also served on boards and in advisory roles at the Global Advisory Council for
He has also served on the UN Advisory Groups on Inclusive Finance and Global Sustainability. He also served as an external advisor on a high-level panel on inclusive finance to the
Mwangi served on the technical team that formulated Kenya’s Vision 2030 from 2003 to 2007 and became the Vision 2030 Delivery Board chair from 2007 to 2019. During this period, Kenya’s GDP rose tenfold from US$10 billion to US$100 billion.[27]
In September 2020, it was alleged Mwangi was taken to court for land grabbing of property of a private company in Muthaiga. According to the allegations, Mwangi used police to evict personnel of a private company Mount Pleasant and installed his security personnel.[28]
Personal life
Mwangi is married and has three sons.[29] Together with his wife they own shares in the stock of Equity Group Holdings and Britam Holdings.[30]
Mwangi is the executive chairman of Equity Group Foundation (EGF), which he founded in 2008.[31][32][9]
Wings to Fly
In 2010, under Mwangi's leadership, Equity Bank launched the Wings to Fly initiative, which provides scholarships to needy students in Kenya. Since its inception, a total of 26,304 students have benefited from the program, with 633 having joined leading global learning institutions.[33]
His family’s notable contributions include US$4 million in donations to support the COVID-19 Response in Kenya, Rwanda, and DRC.[34] US$1 million to set up a business incubation center at Meru University of Science and Technology,[35][36] US$500,000 to his local village school, Nyagatugu Secondary School, and US$300,000 each to both the African Leadership Academy, South Africa and Church House in Uganda.
Awards and honors
- Global
- Winner 2020
- Bloomberg 50, 2019[39][40]
- Ernst and Young's World Entrepreneur of the Year, 2012[41]
- International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) Award for Philanthropy, 2012
- Financial Times’ Top 50 Emerging Market Business Leaders and the 20 Most Influential People in Africa, 2011
- African Person of the Year Runner-up - Commonwealth Business Council, 2009
- The G8 Global Vision Award, 2007
- Regional
- Think Business Banking Awards- CEO of the Year: 2019 and 2020,
- African CEO of the Year- African Business Leadership Awards 2020
- Banker Africa (East Africa), Banker of the Year: 2017, 2018
- African Business Leader of the Year - The Africa Investor Awards, 2013
- Innovation Leader of the Year- The Africa Investor Awards, 2012
- African Leader of the Year- African Leadership Network 2012
- All Africa Business Leader Award- ABN & CNBC Africa 2012
- Forbes Africa Person of the Year: 2012[42]
- Ernst & Young Africa Entrepreneur of the Year award Master Category 2011
- African Banker Awards, African Banker of the Year: 2010, 2011, 2018[43]
- CEO of the Year - The Africa Investor Awards, 2009[44] and 2015[45]
- Africa Investor Awards, CEO of the Year: 2009,[46] 2015
- National Honours
- Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear[47]
- Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear[48]
- Head of State's Commendation (Kenya)
- Uzalendo (patriotism) Award - a commendation by the president of Kenya for contribution to the country's COVID-19 response.[49]
Source: Equity Group Holdings[50]
See also
- Equity Group Holdings Limited
- List of African millionaires
- List of wealthiest people in Kenya
References
- ^ "James Mwangi: A Life Stranger Than Fiction". African Business Magazine. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "Ten least known Kenyan women billionaires". People Daily. 8 June 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ Kwama, Kenneth (4 December 2013). "Success Story of Equity Bank CEO, James Mwangi". The Standard. Nairobi. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "Equity Bank of Kenya: Our History". Equity Bank of Kenya. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ "50 emerging market business leaders". Financial Times. Retrieved 26 May 2019.
- ^ (http://www.hydrant.co.uk), Site designed and built by Hydrant (19 November 2014). "OBG talks to James Mwangi, Chairman, Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Board". Oxford Business Group. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
- ^ "James Mwangi: A Life Stranger Than Fiction". African Business Magazine. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ Rix, Craig (24 July 2012). "The Education History of James Mwangi". KenyaYetu.net. Archived from the original on 3 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014.
- ^ a b c "Dr. James Mwangi". Columbia Global Centers. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Dr. James Mwangi | School of Business". University of Nairobi. Retrieved 26 May 2019.[dead link]
- ^ "Meru University of Science and Technology confers Equity Boss with his fifth Honorary Doctorate degree - Kenya Engineer". www.kenyaengineer.co.ke. September 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "chancellor". Meru University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ a b Chris, Ogbechie (2009). "The Transformation of Equity Bank". Lagos Business School. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ John, Ratichek (2011). "Equity Bank and the Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP) in Kenya" (PDF). FSD Kenya. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Coetzee, Gerhard; Mnjama, Andrew; Kabbucho, Kamau. "Understanding the Re-birth of Equity Building Society in Kenya" (PDF). Microsave.net. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- ^ Omar, Sigomba Ramadhan. "Peaks and valleys of Equity's 35 years expedition". The Standard. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "The career profile of Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi". Bizna Kenya. 14 February 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
- ^ Reporter, Standard. "Equity Group lists on Rwanda Stock Exchange". The Standard. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
- New Vision. 21 June 2009. Archived from the originalon 21 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ Kangethe, Kennedy (17 April 2014). "Equity in 20pc Profit Rise To Sh3.8bn". Capital Business. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ "Investor Relations". Equity Group Holdings. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ "Equity gets approval to merge DRC subsidiaries into new bank branches". The East African. 6 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ Njugunah, Margaret (12 March 2018). "Equity Group Chief Executive joins IFC Economic Advisory Board". Capital Business. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Equity Group CEO appointed to the Columbia Global Centers - The Exchange Equity Group CEO appointed to the Columbia Global Centers". The Exchange. 28 January 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Nairobi Advisory Board". Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "SDG Center for Africa Governance". Retrieved 5 October 2020.
- ^ "Annual GDP CBK". www.centralbank.go.ke. Central Bank of Kenya. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
- ^ "Equity Bank CEO James Mwangi Accused Of Grabbing Land In Muthaiga". KahawaTungu. 14 September 2020.
- ^ "James Mwangi: A Life Stranger Than Fiction". African Business. 6 September 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ Juma, Victor (20 October 2014). "Mwangi family's fortune in Equity tops Sh12bn". Business Daily Africa. Archived from the original on 23 October 2014. Retrieved 22 October 2014.
- ^ "Equity Bank's Group Managing Director & CEO Dr. James Mwangi, talks philanthropy during Covid-19 at Africa.com Webinar". Africa.com. 20 July 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Equity Group Foundation (EGF)". Devex. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
- ^ Wanzala, Ouma (11 December 2015). "Equity Bank's Wings to Fly scholarship targets 30,000 students". Daily Nation. Retrieved 27 August 2020.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Njugunah, Margaret (30 April 2020). "James Mwangi, Family Donate Sh300mn To Fight COVID-19 In Kenya". Capital Business. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "IIEC- Meru University of Science and Technology Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship Centre". Meru University of Science and Technology. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Equity CEO James Mwangi sets record with Sh300m donation to Covid-19 fund". K24 TV. 30 April 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Equity's James Mwangi wins 2020 Oslo Business for Peace Award". The Standard. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ "Equity's Mwangi feted for financial inclusion effort". Business Daily. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ Mutai, Anthony (10 December 2019). "Equity Group's Dr. James Mwangi Honored in the 2019 Bloomberg 50". Horticultural News. Archived from the original on 14 August 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "James Mwangi of Equity honored in the 2019 Bloomberg 50". Capital Business. 10 December 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "James Mwangi". www.ey.com. Ernst & Young Global Limited. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ Mulunda, Luke (14 April 2016). "James Mwangi, Equity Bank CEO, is Forbes Africa Person of the Year for 2012". Business Today. Retrieved 23 May 2019.
- ^ "African Banker Awards". African Banker Awards. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Best of African Capital Markets: 2009 Africa investor Index Series Awards Winners | African Capital Markets News". Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "Africa: Dr. James Mwangi Scoops CEO of the Year Award At the Africa Investor Summit". Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ Ndonga, Elsie (24 May 2018). "Equity CEO Dr. James Mwangi Wins The Banker of the Year in the African Banker Awards. Check Out His Other Achievements". Potentash. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "THE KENYA GAZETTE Published by Authority of the Republic of Kenya" (PDF). Government of Kenya. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "Award of orders, decorations and medals on Jamhuri Day, 12th December 2006" (PDF). The Kenya Gazette. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ Kihiu, Njoki (1 June 2020). "Health DG Amoth among 68 Kenyans conferred Presidential Order of Service Award " Capital News". Capital News. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
- ^ "About Equity". Equity Group Holdings. Archived from the original on 18 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.