Republikein Newspaper

Mariselle Stofberg





With more than 28 years of experience in the retail and business banking spheres, Leon Koch will be a valuable addition to the business banking team at Bank Windhoek.

“I have been exposed to various sectors and segments throughout my career from where I can draw on my experiences and use them to enhance current offerings, products and supporting clients in their respective journeys.”

His attitude, energy, dedication, commitment and determination to succeed, and his mindset that anything is possible will enhance and elevate the team to greater heights.

Koch was born in Mariental and grew up on a farm near Aus, a settlement in the //Karas Region. His family later moved back to Mariental, where he matriculated.

“I had a bursary to study for a teacher but decided against it and immediately started working in the banking sector. I worked for local bank for 25 years, in which I held various roles from junior up to senior levels. I was also fortunate enough to work in several African countries for over a year and a half during my tenure at that specific bank, before returning and mainly working in the retail and business banking space.”



New ventures

His last role at the bank was as the head of business banking for four years before venturing into a new sphere. He then joined Hollard Insurance Brokers for just over a year, running the short-term commercial lines portfolio looking at growth and broker relationships.

After that, in February 2017, he started working for Bank Windhoek.

Koch was appointed as the head of Capricorn Private Wealth and Commercial Banking to help set up and oversee the new Capricorn Private Wealth offering.

During his career, he has completed various banking-related training courses: The University of Stellenbosch Business School’s Management Development Programme, the Gordon Institute of Business' Senior Management Development Programme, and a Master of Science in Banking and International Finance via Salford University Business School in Zürich, Switzerland.

Delivering business growth

Koch will lead and deliver Bank Windhoek’s new business banking strategy across all distribution channels. Given the current economic challenges, his team will specifically be focusing on delivering business growth through improved banking products and enhanced service offerings to business clients.

“My main aim will be to deliver new solutions and enhanced offerings to on-board and support customers to grow. We will be focusing on specific sectors, product developments and service offerings both digital and personal that will drive business growth within the economy at large,” he added.

“Being a Capricorn Group citizen and a connector of positive change, we will further support growth with specific focus towards sustainability and leaving a better future for generations to follow.”

Koch is passionate about business and applying his experience and knowledge and achieving results.

“I enjoy working with people and supporting clients, and it gives me great pleasure in seeing people and businesses transform in a positive light.”

Passion for customer service

He has a true entrepreneurial spirit, experience in banking and a passion for customer service. “My passion for business development, growing my team and sharing knowledge and experience with others forms a great part of who I am, and I hope to inspire others to realise their true potential,” he said.

He not only gets excited by setting and achieving goals individually and as a team, but also by working hard towards the realisation of these goals.

“During my career, I was privileged to have been exposed to various parts of banking across the African continent and Namibia, which created this passion and drive within me and enabled me to see the beauty of the world in which we operate,” Koch said.