MarketingWorld’s CMO of the Week: Kalumbu Nyikosa-Kearns of Access Bank Zambia.

In Zambia’s competitive financial services industry, strong brand positioning and effective communication have become essential pillars of business growth. At the forefront of this transformation is Kalumbu Nyikosa-Kearns, a seasoned marketing and communications executive whose career reflects a dynamic blend of strategic leadership, brand innovation, stakeholder engagement, and business development.

Currently serving as Head of Marketing at Access Bank Zambia, alongside her role as Head of Corporate Communications and Brand Management, Nyikosa-Kearns has become instrumental in shaping the bank’s corporate image, strengthening stakeholder trust, and positioning the Access brand for sustainable growth within Zambia and the wider African market.

Since joining Access Bank Zambia, Nyikosa-Kearns has led integrated communications and marketing initiatives designed to enhance visibility, reputation, and customer engagement. Her responsibilities span corporate communications, public relations, crisis management, media partnerships, sponsorships, internal communications, and strategic brand positioning.

Working closely with executive leadership, she has helped align communications with broader business objectives while ensuring consistency across all brand touchpoints. Her leadership style combines innovation, accountability, and strategic execution, enabling the communications team to deliver impactful campaigns that resonate with stakeholders and consumers alike.

She has also played a central role in driving market research and agile marketing initiatives that strengthen the Access brand’s competitive advantage. Through carefully coordinated events, exhibitions, CSR programmes, and sponsorship activities, she continues to reinforce the bank’s reputation as a forward-looking financial institution.

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Before joining Access Bank Zambia, Nyikosa-Kearns built an extensive career across some of Zambia’s leading financial institutions, including Zambia National Commercial Bank, Atlas Mara, Finance Bank Zambia, and Indo Zambia Bank.

At Zanaco, she served in several senior roles, including Acting Head of Marketing and Senior Marketing and Communications Specialist, where she led brand strategy, crisis response, stakeholder engagement, media relations, and integrated marketing campaigns. Her ability to manage brand assets, supervise agencies, coordinate sponsorships, and oversee strategic communications further strengthened her reputation as a results-driven marketing leader.

Her earlier banking experience in retail banking, relationship management, and foreign exchange operations provided her with deep operational and commercial insight into customer behaviour, financial products, and business growth strategies.

Nyikosa-Kearns’ career also reflects strong expertise in business development and product positioning. During her time at Atlas Mara, she actively contributed to the product redefinition process following the merger of Finance Bank and BancABC, helping reshape products and pricing strategies to meet evolving customer needs.

Her experience at Entrepreneurs Financial Centre further expanded her capabilities in integrated communications, brand perception management, demand generation, and stakeholder relations. Across every role, she has consistently demonstrated the ability to combine marketing strategy with business intelligence to deliver measurable impact.

With nearly two decades of experience spanning banking, communications, advertising, and business development, Kalumbu Nyikosa-Kearns continues to distinguish herself as one of Zambia’s influential marketing and brand leaders. Her ability to blend strategic storytelling, corporate reputation management, and customer-focused marketing has positioned her as a key force in shaping modern banking communications in Zambia.

As the financial services industry continues to evolve, her leadership at Access Bank Zambia reflects the growing importance of innovative brand management and strategic communication in driving business success and strengthening customer trust.

MarketingWorld Magazine’s CMO of the Week is a global recognition celebrating marketing and communications leaders who demonstrate exceptional leadership, drive brand transformation, champion innovation, and make meaningful contribution to market growth and stakeholder enjoyment.