KCB Lion morphs into Lioness on Women’s Day

KCB Group wants to awaken the inner lioness.

Through a campaign geared at gender parity and inclusion, the largest financial institution by assets in East Africa, KCB has temporarily refreshed its logo from that of a lion to a lioness.

KCB says the move marks a significant turning point in the advocacy for more gender inclusion in the region’s financial services sector.

“We are taking a bold and sincere step using our brand asset; to reiterate our promise for the advancement of gender equality and the empowerment of women,” KCB CEO Joshua Oigara said.

The campaign, dubbed “Hear her Roar” is set to run in in Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.

Hear her Roar was rolled out on March 8 to commemorate the International Women’s Day which is celebrated on that date.

Just like the Lion, she’s fierce, she adapts & she’s reliable. In honor of all Women as we Celebrate International Women’s Day, It’s time to #HearHerRoar https://t.co/PbJuNzXI3w pic.twitter.com/2YavvynKOE

— KCB Group (@KCBGroup) March 8, 2019

The lender’s lion logo has been used as its corporate brand prior to the switch to the lioness in what the bank says signifies the Group’s commitment towards gender equality and inclusion.

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In a press statement, KCB said that in 2018, it achieved a 50:50 gender ratio of its workforce in a milestone achieved ahead of its 2020 target.

“We have been deliberate in our operations to ensure that we push for gender parity at all levels within the institution,” Oigara said.

KCB posted Ksh24 billion profit in latest FY results, a 22% jump

However, the bank’s top hierarchy still retains male dominance, with Georgina Malombe the only female that appears on the top governance structure, according to the KCB website as at the time of writing.

Last month, the Group announced the approval of Josephine Tata Djirackor as a Non-Executive Director, although that came as another female, Dr Nancy Onyango resigned.

Of the 11 profiles of governance members on the KCB website, ten are men.

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