Mizinga Melu stands as a trailblazing leader in African banking, currently serving as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Absa Bank Zambia PLC. Since assuming this role in February 2020—following the rebranding from Barclays—she has steered the institution through dynamic growth, fostering innovation, stakeholder relationships, and sustainable financial services in Zambia’s evolving economy.
Her leadership emphasizes customer-centric strategies, operational excellence, and positioning Absa as a key contributor to Zambia’s development.
Her ascent to the top reflects a distinguished career marked by pioneering achievements. Melu held the position of Chief Executive Officer for Barclays Africa Regional Management (later Absa), based in Johannesburg. In this capacity, she oversaw stakeholder engagement with governments, regulators, boards, and clients across Barclays’ African subsidiaries outside South Africa, driving coordinated strategies and regional integration from October 2014 onward.
Prior to her Barclays tenure, Melu served as Managing Director of National Bank of Commerce Limited (NBC) in Tanzania, a Barclays-owned entity. This role built on her extensive expertise in leading financial institutions across borders, where she managed operations and growth in a competitive East African market.
A significant chapter in her journey unfolded at Standard Chartered Bank, where she dedicated over 13 years to progressively senior positions. She broke barriers as the first Zambian and first woman to serve as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Standard Chartered Bank Zambia.
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Earlier global and regional roles included Global Head of Development Organisations and Microfinance in London, Regional Head of Financial Institutions Africa, and Head of Treasury in Tanzania, showcasing her versatility in treasury, institutional banking, and inclusive finance initiatives.
Beyond executive roles, Melu has contributed to global governance as a Board Member of the Museum for the United Nations – UN Live in Copenhagen, highlighting her commitment to broader societal impact. With a career spanning treasury, regional leadership, and CEO positions across Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, and beyond, Mizinga Melu exemplifies resilience, strategic vision, and groundbreaking female leadership in Africa’s financial sector.
InstinctWomen’s Woman of the Week recognizes outstanding women leaders whose influence, innovation, and leadership are shaping industries across the globe and Valeta Mthimkhulu exemplifies this impact in Southern Africa’s banking and financial services sector.
