First National Bank (FNB) Zambia Limited appoint Kapumpe Chola as first female CEO

First National Bank (FNB) Zambia Limited Board Chairperson Richard Mazombwe announced the appointment of Ms. Kapumpe Chola as the Bank’s new first female Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective Monday, 1st February 2024

By Derrick Sinjela

First National Bank (FNB) Zambia Limited Board Chairperson Richard Mazombwe announced the appointment of Ms. Kapumpe Chola as the Bank’s new first female Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective Monday, 1st February 2024, taking over from Mr. Bydon Longwe who has been leading the Bank since July 2020.

While, Mr. Longwe is taking on a new role at FirstRand Group in South Africa, Ms. Kapumpe Chola with over 26 years of banking experience both within and outside the Zambian market has been serving as Country Director – Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) in Botswana, following her role as Head – Corporate and Investment Banking at FNB Zambia.

Both RMB and FNB are divisions of the FirstRand Group.

Commenting on the appointment, FNB Zambia Board Chairperson, Mr. Mazombwe is elated to name Ms. Kapumpe as the first female CEO of FNB Zambia.

Explaining that Ms. Kapumpe is the second Zambian CEO of the Bank, Mazombwe expressed confidence that she (Ms. Kapumpe Chola) has the requisite experience and expertise to lead FNB Zambia to greater heights”.

“We congratulate Bydon Longwe on his successful tenure as CEO of FNB Zambia. Under Bydon’s leadership, the Bank has launched several innovative products, driven a successful digital and customer centric strategy that has delivered strong franchise growth demonstrated in increased footprint and usage, including the Cashplus Agency banking model with Agents now present across the entire country”, Mr. Mazombwe said in a Thursday 21st December 2023 Press Statement circulated by Karen Gombo Adams, FNB Zambia Brand and Communications Manager.

First National Bank (FNB) Zambia Limited Board Chairperson Richard Mazombwe

FNB Zambia outgoing CEO, Mr. Longwe said, “The appointment of Ms. Kapumpe is testament to the financial institutions robust succession planning and ongoing commitment to invest in its own people. I am excited for the business under her leadership as she drives the FNB Zambia growth story”.

Mr. Bydon Longwe who has been leading the Bank since July 2020, is taking on a new role at FirstRand Group in South Africa.

About FNB Zambia:
First National Bank (FNB) Zambia Ltd is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FirstRand Group South Africa and started operating in Zambia on 1st April 2009. The FirstRand Group has a presence in nine African countries outside South Africa, offering full banking services through FNB and Rand Merchant Bank (RMB). FNB Zambia Limited is authorized and regulated by the Bank of Zambia and is an active member of the Bankers Association of Zambia. The team services retail customers, small to medium enterprises, and local and multinational corporate clients and offers a comprehensive suite of Corporate and Investment Banking products and services. The Bank has a network of 23 branches, approximately 140 ATMs and ADTs, more than 3,500 Point of Sale devices, and over 1,900 CashPlus agencies.