Equity Group appoints Kenyan Executive Victoria Cherotich as company secretary

Equity Group Holdings Plc, one of East Africa’s largest financial services groups led by James Mwangi, has appointed Victoria Cherotich as its group company secretary following approval by the Central Bank of Kenya, strengthening its corporate governance leadership as the lender continues to expand its operations.

In a statement on October 16, Group Board Chairman Prof. Isaac Macharia said Cherotich brings more than 15 years of experience in company secretarial services, securities registration, governance advisory and regulatory compliance.

Her appointment follows the transition of Lydia Ndirangu, who will assume the role of Group Chief Tax, Regulatory Affairs and Sustainability Officer. The board thanked Ndirangu for her service as company secretary and expressed confidence in her new responsibilities.

Cherotich brings governance and registry experience

Victoria Cherotich joined Equity Group in November 2024 as Group Registrar General, overseeing corporate governance, share registry and strategic human resource governance.

She began her career at Image Registrars Limited in 2006 as a registry clerk, rising through operational roles to become director of operations before her appointment as chief executive officer on April 1, 2023.

As CEO, she oversaw treasury operations, dividend administration, corporate actions, digital transformation and client service innovation. She also served as company secretary to several listed companies, including Sameer Africa Plc.

Victoria Cherotich holds a bachelor’s degree in economics and an MBA in strategic management from the University of Nairobi. She is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya, a Certified Secretary and an Accredited Governance Auditor. She has also completed the Certified Human Resource Professional programme.

Equity Group profit rises 32%

Victoria Cherotich’s appointment comes as Equity Group reports stronger financial performance, with profit after tax increasing 32% to Ksh45.5 billion ($350.54 million) in the six months ended June 30, 2026, from Ksh34.6 billion ($266.56 million) a year earlier.

The group’s total assets increased 20% to Ksh2.16 trillion ($16.64 billion), while customer deposits climbed 21% to Ksh1.59 trillion ($12.25 billion). Net loans and advances grew 19% to Ksh981 billion ($7.56 billion).

Asset quality also improved, with the non-performing loans ratio declining to 9.5%.

Digital banking drives transactions

Equity Group said 98.3% of its transactions were conducted outside traditional bank branches, highlighting customer adoption of its digital banking services.

The group continues to leverage digital platforms to expand access to financial services, improve operational efficiency and strengthen its regional presence. Victoria Cherotich’s appointment adds to the leadership overseeing governance and regulatory compliance as the financial services group pursues growth across its markets.