Head of Business Development – Business Banking and Corporate & Investment Banking

Absa Bank Kenya PLC is a leading financial institution offering a wide range of banking and financial services to individuals, businesses, and corporations.

The Head of Business Development will be tasked with spearheading insurance growth within Absa's Business Banking and Corporate & Investment Banking divisions. This includes formulating and implementing a comprehensive insurance growth strategy, translating segment priorities into actionable annual plans for revenue, penetration, pipeline development, and partnerships. The role requires identifying key industries, specific customer groups, and prevalent risk themes to craft tailored insurance solutions. The successful candidate will be accountable for revenue, profitability, premium, customer contribution, and penetration outcomes for their assigned segments, leveraging portfolio and pipeline data to pinpoint gaps, opportunities, and necessary corrective actions. They will also ensure disciplined forecasting, opportunity management, and conversion across all relationship-led channels. A critical aspect of the role involves shaping customer-led risk and insurance propositions for business and corporate clients, coordinating with insurers and internal specialists to structure relevant life, general, and specialized solutions. It is essential that these propositions are commercially viable, operationally deliverable, and fully compliant with customer protection standards.

1. Develop and execute the insurance growth strategy for Business Banking and Corporate & Investment Banking.
2. Translate segment priorities into annual revenue, penetration, pipeline, and partnership plans.
3. Identify priority industries, customer groups, and risk themes requiring differentiated insurance solutions.
4. Own revenue, profitability, premium, customer contribution, and penetration outcomes for the assigned segments.
5. Use portfolio and pipeline data to identify gaps, opportunities, and corrective actions.
6. Drive disciplined forecasting, opportunity management, and conversion across relationship-led channels.
7. Shape customer-led risk and insurance propositions for business and corporate clients.
8. Coordinate insurers and internal specialists to structure relevant life, general, and specialized solutions.
9. Ensure propositions are commercially viable, operationally deliverable, and compliant with customer-protection standards.
10. Strengthen execution through Relationship Managers, branch, digital, embedded, and alternative channels.
11. Lead negotiation and governance of high-impact internal and external partnership agreements.
12. Define partner accountabilities, commercial terms, service standards, and performance measures.
13. Present performance, risks, and strategic milestones to EXCO, Board, and relevant governance forums.
14. Build alignment across segments, Product, Operations, Risk, Compliance, Finance, and insurer partners.
15. Represent the business in relevant client, market, and industry forums.
16. Recruit, coach, and lead a high-performing team with clear targets and succession plans.

1. Bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution in Insurance, Business, Commerce, Finance, Economics, Marketing, or a related discipline.
2. A master’s degree or MBA is an added advantage.
3. A diploma in insurance or a technical insurance qualification (e.g., ACII).
4. Advanced certification in corporate insurance, risk management, relationship management, or strategic sales is desirable.
5. Where applicable, maintain registration and a valid practicing certificate as an insurance professional.
6. At least 10 years of relevant experience in insurance, bancassurance, banking, or financial services.
7. Minimum of 5 years in a senior commercial, segment, or business-development leadership role.
8. Experience developing insurance solutions for Business Banking and Corporate & Investment Banking customers.
9. Experience negotiating partnerships, managing revenue portfolios, and presenting to executive governance forums.
10. Strong knowledge of Business Banking (BB) and Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) insurance strategy.
11. Proficiency in distribution management.
12. Ability to perform financial performance analysis.
13. Skills in partnership structuring.
14. Experience with executive reporting.