Yahya Kiyabo – Head of  Business & Co-operative Banking

Mr. Yahya is a seasoned banking executive and certified director with over 12 years of diverse experience in the financial services sector, including leadership in strategic management, branch operations, business development, credit and risk management, and corporate governance. He currently serves as the Head of Business and Co-operative Banking at Coop Bank Tanzania, where he is responsible for steering the bank’s strategic vision, operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and sustainable growth.

His leadership journey is rooted in hands-on operational and managerial roles held across multiple levels at CRDB Bank Plc, where he served as Branch Manager (Ngaramtoni and Njiro), Service Centre In-Charge, and Bank Officer from 2013 to 2021. He has successfully led branch performance through business planning, credit portfolio growth, compliance enforcement, team development, and stakeholder engagement. Notably, he also served as a Clerical Accountant at CSI Engineering Co. Ltd and an Accountant Trainee at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs (Tabora Sub-Treasury), gaining foundational experience in accounting, government financial systems, and revenue management.

Mr. Yahya holds a Master of Financial Management from Amity University, India, in collaboration with the University of Dar es Salaam under the Pan-Africa e-network project, and a Bachelor of Commerce in Banking and Financial Services from the University of Dar es Salaam, where he graduated with Second Class (Upper Division). He also possesses a Higher Certificate in Banking Services from Milpark Education, South Africa, and an Executive Diploma in Islamic Banking & Finance from AlHuda CIBE, Dubai.

He is a Certified Director (MIODT.1478) through the Institute of Directors in Tanzania (IoDT) and holds several other industry-relevant certifications including, Certificate of Proficiency in Insurance (COP) – IFM, Certified Professional Banker (CPB) – Tanzania Institute of Bankers (TIOB), Specialist Certificate in Banking – TIOB

Throughout his career, Mr. Yahya has demonstrated strong leadership in developing market-responsive products, enhancing operational controls, building high-performance teams, and aligning business execution with compliance and governance standards. He is also experienced in managing large credit portfolios including microfinance, SME, corporate, and agricultural financing, while ensuring customer satisfaction and regulatory alignment.

Mr. Yahya is recognized for his transformational leadership style, effective risk oversight, strategic foresight, and ability to drive institutional performance through innovation, ethical leadership, and stakeholder value creation.