I&M Bank, Formerly Orient Bank Welcomes Robin Bairstow as CEO, Building on Strong Financial Foundation

I&M Bank, formerly known as Orient Bank, has announced the appointment of Mr. Robin Bairstow as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), taking over from Mr. Sam Ntulume, who had been serving in an acting capacity for over a year. This decision comes more than two years after I&M Bank, headquartered in Kenya, acquired a 90 percent stake in Orient Bank in November 2021. I&M Holdings, the parent company, operates various subsidiaries across Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Mauritius.

Mr. Suleiman Kiggundu, the Chairman of I&M Bank, stated in a press release that Mr. Bairstow’s appointment is expected to provide the experience and knowledge necessary to further I&M’s goal of becoming Uganda’s leading financial partner for growth. He also commended Mr. Ntulume for his strong leadership in ensuring the bank’s continued success.

Mr. Bairstow brings with him a wealth of experience, having worked with I&M Bank since 2015. During his tenure as CEO in Rwanda, he played a pivotal role in tripling the subsidiary’s assets to Shs1.4 trillion (RWF 491.3 billion), and significantly increasing pre-tax profits to Shs40.6 billion (RWF 13.4 billion). Additionally, he facilitated the bank’s listing on the Rwanda Stock Exchange in 2017. Prior to his time with I&M Bank, Mr. Bairstow held positions at various prominent financial institutions, including Standard Chartered Bank, Citibank NA, BOE Bank, and Nedbank, with experience in Asian markets.

Mr. Bairstow’s educational background includes a diploma in Business Management, a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from the University of Leicester, and graduation from the South African Merchant Naval Academy.

I&M Bank’s CEO Transition