Mizinga Melu
Mizinga Melu | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 17, 1968 Mazabuka, Southern Province, Zambia |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, accountant, banking executive |
| Known for | CEO of Absa Bank Zambia Plc; CEO of Barclays Africa Management; CEO of National Bank of Commerce (Tanzania); CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Zambia |
| Notable work | Braving the Odds (book) |
Mizinga Melu is a prominent Zambian entrepreneur, accountant, and banking executive who has held the position of CEO at Absa Bank Zambia Plc since February 2017, operating out of Lusaka.
Prior to this appointment, she served as CEO for Barclays Africa Management starting in October 2014, where she managed relationships with stakeholders including governments, regulatory bodies, boards, and clients across African subsidiaries excluding South Africa. All managing directors from subsidiaries outside South Africa reported directly to her. Earlier in her career, Melu was the managing director and CEO of National Bank of Commerce (Tanzania) beginning in May 2013 and led Standard Chartered Bank Zambia as its CEO from January 2008 until May 2013.
In recognition of her leadership, Melu was honored as CEO of the Year by Global Banking and Finance Review in 2020. She also authored the bestselling book Braving the Odds, released in January 2021.
Overview
Melu holds the distinction of being both the first Zambian and the first female to assume the role of managing director and CEO at Standard Chartered Bank Zambia. During her leadership tenure, she was the sole female CEO among Standard Chartered’s operations spanning thirteen African nations.
History
Born on 17 March in Mazabuka, located in Zambia’s Southern Province, Melu began her professional journey at Zambia National Commercial Bank during the late 1980s and early 1990s. She joined Standard Chartered Bank in 1993, undertaking various roles across its branches in Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, the United States, and the United Kingdom. Before ascending to the CEO role at Standard Chartered Zambia, she held the position of Global Head of Development Organizations at the bank’s headquarters in London.
Education
Melu completed her secondary education at Roma Girls Secondary School in 1985. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Zambia and subsequently obtained an MBA from Henley Management College at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.
Awards
Her professional achievements have been recognized through several awards, including:
- OHNS Lab Awards in 2022
- Most Influential African Woman Banker in 2022
- Southern African Women in Leadership Trailblazers Award in 2020
- Banking CEO of the Year Zambia by International Business Magazine in 2019
- Transformational Leadership Award in 2017
- All Africa Business Woman of the Year in 2013
- CEO of the Year by Zambia Institute Chartered Accountants in 2013
- Business Woman of the Year by Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA) in 2013
Other responsibilities
Melu is married to Chipepo Melu, an economist and real estate developer; together they have two children. Additionally, she holds the position of chairperson at the Zambia Daily Mail.
External links
- 1968 births
- Living people
- Zambian bankers
- Zambian businesspeople
- Zambian accountants
- Zambian women accountants
- University of Zambia alumni
- Alumni of Henley Management College
- People from Mazabuka District
- Absa people
- Zambian women chief executives
- Zambian business executives
- Zambian chief executives
- 20th-century Zambian businesspeople
- 21st-century Zambian businesspeople
- 20th-century Zambian businesswomen
- 21st-century Zambian businesswomen