Hartnell Ndungi

Hartnell is an experienced Data, Digital and Analytics professional with demonstrated expertise in the African banking and financial services industry. His specialization is in AI, Digital Transformation, Data management, Data Strategy, Data Governance, Business Intelligence, Big Data, Advanced Analytics, Data Architecture, Data Science, Data Visualization, Data modeling, Cloud Computing and Warehousing. He has a proven record of formulating Data and Digital strategies, executing dynamic transformational programs and leading complex technical teams.

He is currently the Chief Data Officer, Africa Regional Operations at Absa Group where he is responsible for Africa’s enterprise Data strategy, Data governance, Analytics, AI, Data monetization and effective data exploitation. In this role, he supports Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, Ghana, Zambia, Botswana and Seychelles on data strategy, operations and capacity building.

His previous role was Chief Data Officer for Kenya where he was responsible for the overall Data Analytics and Data Management agenda for the bank. Leading the Business Intelligence, Data Science, Model Analytics and Governance departments, he was responsible for developing and executing the Data Analytics roadmap to enable sustainable business growth and profitability as well as enterprise transformation by enabling digital and organizational transformation. He supported sustained customer experience through improved master data management, dependable data stewardship, exploration of new market opportunities, introduction of data partnerships, data led sales and sales force effectiveness.

His key achievements include setting up and mentoring data teams, effectively managing digital transformation squads, delivering key finance, credit, retail and corporate use cases, setting up the foundation for digital transformation, developing AI models for business predictions, transforming enterprises to data driven organizations and maturing banks to the highest transformative Data Analytics maturity level.

Hartnell has also worked as a Data consultant providing advisory and analytics services to Governments, Parastatals, NGOs, Banks, Insurance firms, Telco’s and Industrial markets.

He holds a Leadership certificate from IMD Switzerland, a master’s degree in analytics from Georgia Institute of Technology, an executive data science specialization from Johns Hopkins University, a degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Moi University and more than 150 certifications in digital and data.