Geoffrey Monari has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), effective March 13, 2025.
Mr. Monari, a seasoned leader in higher education financing, previously served as the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Universities Fund since 2020. Prior to that, he held the position of Chief Operations Officer (COO) at the same agency from 2016 to 2020, where he led key reforms in student lending, debt recovery, resource mobilization, and stakeholder engagement.
In a press statement, HELB Board Chairman Ekwee Ethuro praised the appointment, noting Mr. Monari’s extensive background in higher education financing.
“The Board is confident that Mr. Monari’s vast experience, leadership acumen, and deep understanding of the higher education financing landscape will provide the vision and leadership necessary to propel HELB to new heights, ensuring that it continues to serve its stakeholders with excellence and integrity,” the statement read.
With over 15 years of senior management experience in the higher education financing sector, Mr. Monari is well-positioned to guide HELB through a period of institutional restructuring, fintech optimization, and customer-centered transformation.
He holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce degree, and is currently pursuing the Global CEO Africa Programme at Strathmore Business School.
Mr. Monari takes over from interim CEO Mary Wachira, who stepped in following the departure of long-serving CEO Charles Ringera in 2024, after a decade at the helm.
