The East African Development Bank (EADB) has appointed Anne Juuko as its new Director General, effective October 2, 2026. Juuko brings over 20 years of experience in banking, financial markets, and executive leadership across East and Southern Africa. Her appointment comes at a time when the regional lender is reporting significant growth in profitability and loan disbursements. The bank's Governing Council made the decision to appoint Juuko to lead the institution as it implements reforms aimed at strengthening its performance and expanding its impact across East Africa.
Before joining EADB, Juuko served as Regional Head of Global Markets for Eastern Africa at Standard Bank Group. She previously held senior positions at Stanbic Bank Uganda, Standard Bank Namibia, Citibank Kenya, and Citibank Uganda. Her regional experience and understanding of East African economies, capital markets, and development financing are expected to be critical in her new role. Rwanda's Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Yusuf Murangwa, who chairs the EADB Governing Council, highlighted Juuko's strong record of delivering growth across multiple African markets.
The appointment comes after a strong financial performance by EADB in 2025. The bank reported a 51% increase in profit before tax and a 140% surge in loan disbursements during the year. EADB also retained its investment-grade credit ratings of A from S&P Global and Baa3 from Moody's, both with stable outlooks. These ratings reflect the bank's solid financial position and its ability to maintain a stable outlook despite the challenging economic environment.
Murangwa expressed confidence in Juuko's leadership, stating that she would be expected to accelerate the bank's transformation, unlock untapped opportunities, and expand its contribution to regional economic development. The Governing Council is optimistic that under Juuko's leadership, EADB will further strengthen its position as East Africa's premier development finance institution and play a greater role in driving regional economic growth, integration, and sustainable development.
Juuko outlined her priorities, which include expanding EADB's development finance role, mobilizing new sources of long-term capital, and building strategic partnerships. She emphasized her commitment to delivering greater socio-economic impact across the region by strengthening development finance and expanding the bank's reach. Juuko succeeds an interim leadership arrangement overseen by Benard Mono, Senior Director of Finance and Treasury.
Alongside Juuko's appointment, the Governing Council has adopted reforms intended to improve the bank's performance and governance. Murangwa stressed that strong governance is the foundation of a credible development bank and that these reforms would help EADB build on its existing foundation and deliver better results to member states and the wider region. The reforms aim to enhance the bank's accountability, transparency, and overall effectiveness.
The EADB was established in 1967 and re-established under a new Charter in 1980, which expanded its mandate to provide a broader range of financial services and promote socio-economic development and regional integration. The bank is currently owned by Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Rwanda, alongside other development and commercial financial institutions. With Juuko at the helm, EADB is poised to continue its growth trajectory and play a vital role in driving economic development across East Africa.
Key points
- Anne Juuko's appointment as EADB Director General comes at a time of significant growth for the bank, with a 51% increase in profit before tax and a 140% surge in loan disbursements in 2025.
- Juuko brings over 20 years of experience in banking, financial markets, and executive leadership across East and Southern Africa to her new role.
- The EADB Governing Council has adopted reforms aimed at improving the bank's performance and governance, which will help the institution build on its existing foundation and deliver better results.
