Lilian Onyach is a highly accomplished marketing and communications executive with over 16 years of experience leading brand strategy, product development, and corporate communications across the telecommunications, aviation, and financial services sectors in East Africa.
She is currently the head of Brand and Marketing for Stanbic Bank in Kenya and South Sudan, where she drives strategic marketing initiatives, corporate communications, and digital transformation, while also serving as a Non-Executive Director on the Stanbic Kenya Foundation Board.
Onyach began her career at Kenya Airways, working across public relations, brand marketing, product development, and in-flight services. Her innovative approach to brand positioning and stakeholder engagement contributed to the airline’s successful rebranding, the launch of over 24 international routes, and the enhancement of in-flight services, earning industry recognition, including multiple Best Product/Service Launch awards.
Onyach later joined Safaricom during the early stages of M-PESA, where she led transformative marketing campaigns that positioned M-PESA as a diversified ecosystem and drove financial inclusion. Her initiatives, including the launch of M-Shwari, Lipa na M-PESA, and the Lipa Fuel rewards program, helped attract millions of customers and merchants while redefining mobile money adoption in Kenya.
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At Sanlam East Africa, Onyach oversaw marketing and corporate communications across five countries, guiding the successful rebranding of the group and turning around Sanlam General Insurance Kenya from a loss position to profitability. She also established regional marketing and digital capabilities and led initiatives to strengthen financial journalism across Africa.
In her current role at Stanbic Bank, she has spearheaded the repositioning of inclusive platforms such as DADA for women entrepreneurs and continues to lead the bank’s strategic marketing and communication agenda, reinforcing brand equity and customer engagement across Kenya and South Sudan.
Onyach holds an MBA from Strathmore Business School, a Bachelor’s in International Business Administration-Marketing from the United States International University, and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from Columbia Business School. She is a Council Member of the Marketing Society of Kenya and is widely respected for her strategic vision, resilience, and ability to translate business insight into innovative marketing and communications that deliver tangible results.
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