Dereje Zebene Kelilie: Roles, Education, and Professional Achievements

Dereje Zebene Kelilie, the CEO of Zemen Bank S.C., is a veteran Ethiopian banking leader with more than 20 years of experience across major financial institutions. Since joining Zemen Bank in April 2018, he has been driving strategic growth, operational efficiency, and service modernization within the bank.

Before his current role, Dereje held senior executive positions at Awash Bank, including Chief Officer of Corporate Strategy and Transformation, Vice President of Banking Operations, and Vice President of International Banking. His career also includes impactful roles at Commerzbank A.G’s Representative Office for Ethiopia and East Africa, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Bank of Ethiopia, and Wegagen Bank.

Academically, he holds an MBA from Lincoln University (California, USA), a BA in Management, and a Bachelor of Law (LL.B) from Addis Ababa University—providing him with a unique blend of strategic, managerial, and legal expertise.

Today, Dereje Zebene Kelilie continues to position Zemen Bank as a competitive and customer-focused institution in Ethiopia’s rapidly evolving financial sector.