Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has announced the appointment of Loknath Mishra as the new Chief Executive Officer of UBA UK, a move aimed at strengthening the Group’s international presence and reinforcing its role as a financial bridge between Africa and global markets.
The appointment takes effect from February 2, 2026, and underscores UBA’s strategic commitment to building a strong, world-class international banking franchise capable of supporting cross-border trade, investment and financial flows between Africa and the rest of the world.
As CEO of UBA UK, Mishra will be responsible for positioning the UK subsidiary as a centre of excellence for regulatory compliance and customer service.
His mandate also includes strengthening the bank’s financial resilience through diversified liquidity and income streams, while deepening UBA’s leadership in trade finance, transaction banking and correspondent banking to better support businesses operating in and out of Africa.
Mishra brings decades of international banking experience spanning retail, corporate, investment and transaction banking.
He is widely regarded for his expertise in building and leading regulated banking platforms across the United Kingdom and Europe, as well as for navigating complex regulatory environments.
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Prior to joining UBA UK, 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 European markets.
During his tenure, he also strengthened governance structures, enhanced regulatory engagement and improved operational resilience.
He previously held several senior leadership positions at ICICI Bank Limited, including Group Head of Wholesale Banking and Global Head of Transaction Banking.
In these roles, he contributed significantly to the expansion of the bank’s global wholesale franchise, reinforced risk management frameworks and led customer-focused transformation initiatives across corporate, institutional and financial institution segments.
Mishra is also recognised for driving digital innovation in areas such as trade finance, cash management and retail banking. In recognition of his contributions to the financial services sector, he was awarded the Freedom of the City of London.
Commenting on the appointment, UBA’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, described Mishra as a strong addition to the Group’s leadership team.
“Loknath brings an exceptional combination of global banking experience, regulatory credibility and deep expertise in wholesale and transaction banking,” Alawuba said.
“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 continued investment in building a globally competitive banking platform that supports Africa’s deeper integration into the global economy.
Reacting to his appointment, Mishra expressed appreciation for the opportunity to lead UBA UK at a pivotal moment in the Group’s growth.
“I am honoured to join UBA at a time of significant opportunity for the Group,” he said. “UBA’s unique role in connecting Africa to global markets is both compelling and strategically important. I look forward to working with colleagues across the Group to strengthen UBA UK’s platform and to support clients in unlocking growth across Africa and beyond.”
UBA UK plays a critical role within the Group’s international network, supporting African corporates, financial institutions, sovereigns and global partners through its strong correspondent banking capabilities and expertise in facilitating cross-border transactions.