Loknath Mishra steps in as new CEO of UBA UK

United Bank for Africa (UBA), widely known as Africa’s Global Bank, has appointed Loknath Mishra as Chief Executive Officer of its United Kingdom subsidiary, UBA UK

The appointment, announced today, is part of UBA’s strategic push to deepen its international presence and reinforce its position as a vital financial bridge connecting Africa with global markets.

In his new role, Mishra will lead efforts to position UBA UK as a centre of excellence in regulatory compliance and customer service excellence. His mandate also includes strengthening the subsidiary’s financial resilience through diversified liquidity and income streams, while consolidating UBA’s leadership in trade finance, transaction banking, and correspondent banking services that facilitate business flows into and out of the continent.

Mishra brings extensive international banking experience spanning several decades across retail, corporate, investment, and transaction banking. He is recognised for successfully building and leading regulated banking platforms in the United Kingdom and broader European markets.

Prior to joining UBA, Mishra served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ICICI Bank UK, where he played a pivotal role in expanding the bank’s footprint across the UK and Europe. During his tenure, he significantly strengthened governance structures, regulatory relationships, and operational resilience.

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At ICICI Bank Limited, he also held senior leadership positions including Group Head of Wholesale Banking and Global Head of Transaction Banking. In those roles, he drove the growth of the bank’s global wholesale franchise, enhanced risk management frameworks, and spearheaded customer-centric transformation initiatives across corporate, institutional, and financial institution client segments.

Mishra is widely respected for his ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and for championing digital innovation in trade finance, cash management, and retail banking. In recognition of his contributions to the financial services industry, he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London.

Commenting on the appointment, Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA, said:
“Loknath brings an exceptional combination of global banking experience, regulatory credibility, and deep expertise in wholesale and transaction banking. His leadership will be instrumental in advancing UBA UK’s role as a flagship subsidiary for the Group and in strengthening our capacity to support trade and investment flows between Africa and international markets.”

Alawuba added that the appointment reflects UBA’s ongoing commitment to building a world-class international banking franchise that supports Africa’s deeper integration into the global economy.