BY NADIA NTIAMOAH
Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) has appointed experienced financial services executive Justina Stella Laing as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO), as the bank intensifies efforts to improve operational efficiency, strengthen customer relationships and advance its transformation agenda.
The appointment is expected to reinforce UMB’s operational leadership, with Ms Laing bringing more than 18 years of experience in financial services, corporate and investment banking, infrastructure finance, syndicated lending and risk management.
In her new role, she will oversee the bank’s operations, technology and process functions, with responsibility for driving efficiency, improving service delivery and strengthening governance and risk management across the organisation.
Ms Laing has built an extensive career managing complex financial portfolios and leading financing and fundraising mandates exceeding US$2.6 billion. Her professional experience includes working with governments, central banks, development finance institutions, multinational partners and private-sector clients.
Before joining UMB, she held senior positions at CalBank PLC and subsequently provided financial advisory and consultancy services in the energy and agribusiness sectors.
Her career has also involved establishing new business units, strengthening governance structures, improving risk management systems and implementing digital and operational processes aimed at enhancing business performance.
She has further contributed to integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into core business operations.
UMB says her appointment aligns with its broader strategy to establish itself as Ghana’s most reliable relationship bank, with particular emphasis on delivering consistent customer experiences and translating strategic objectives into measurable operational results.
Commenting on the appointment, UMB Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Philip Oti-Mensah, said reliability must be demonstrated through the bank’s everyday operations rather than treated merely as a corporate slogan.
Dr Oti-Mensah noted that Ms Laing’s experience in managing large-scale financial initiatives, establishing business units and strengthening governance systems would be valuable to the bank’s transformation efforts. He added that her appointment completes the bank’s leadership team and would help ensure that UMB consistently delivers on its commitments to customers.
Justina Laing serves as a Non-Executive Director on several boards, offering strategic perspective and sound governance. She is respected for her integrity, collaborative leadership style and commitment to long-term value creation.
She is also passionate about developing people and fostering environments where teams can perform at their best. She holds a master’s degree in Agribusiness from the University of Florida.
Justina Laing stated on her appointment: “I am delighted to join the UMB team at this exciting stage of the Bank’s journey. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues across the Bank to deliver excellent customer experiences, strengthen our relationships with customers, and contribute to UMB’s continued growth and success. Together, I believe we can build on the progress already made and take the Bank to the next level.”
