Banque Populaire du Rwanda (BPR) appointed Ephraim Turahirwa as their new Chief Executive Officer, becoming the first Rwandan to manage the entity since its change into a commercial bank in 2008.

Turahirwa replaces Paul Van Apeldoorn who served as Acting Chief Executive Officer since October last year.

"Turahirwa brings on board loads of experience, having worked as the vice governor of the Rwanda National Bank (BNR) between March 2008 and October 2009. He also served as the CEO of Tri-Star Investments, Managing Director at Rwanda Commercial Bank (BCR) as well as Country Manager at both Stanbic Bank Uganda and Stanbic Bank Tanzania,” a statement by Bank Populaire reads.

"The Board of Directors would also like to recognise the tremendous work and efforts of Mr. Paul Van Apeldoorn who led the bank through the period of transition.”

The 38 year old bank boasts a clientele of over 1.4 million as well as 190 branches all over the country.