Standard Bank Namibia has appointed technology and banking executive Allvan Farmer as its new Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective 1 March 2026.
Farmer brings nearly two decades of experience in banking and financial services across Namibia and the broader Southern African region, with expertise in enterprise technology leadership, payments infrastructure, cyber security and regulatory governance.
He previously served as Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Letshego Bank Namibia and has extensive experience across several critical business areas, including payments, technology operations, digital transformation, cyber security, risk and compliance.
His appointment comes as banks across the region accelerate digital transformation and invest in modern payment systems, data governance and cyber resilience to support evolving customer expectations and regulatory requirements.
Standard Bank Namibia said Farmer has led several large-scale technology and operational transformation programmes during his career, focusing on modernising operating models, strengthening operational resilience and building scalable digital platforms for financial institutions.
His experience includes oversight of enterprise technology, payments systems, cyber security frameworks and data governance structures across multiple African markets.
In Namibia, Farmer has played a role in advancing technology localisation and strengthening operational resilience within financial institutions, while supporting the sector’s transition towards emerging real-time payment innovations.
He has also contributed to industry governance and regulatory initiatives, serving as a council member and non-executive director of the Payments Association of Namibia. Farmer has further been involved in the Bank of Namibia’s Instant Payments Programme, which aims to modernise the country’s digital payments infrastructure.
Farmer holds an Executive MBA from Guglielmo Marconi University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Strategic Project Management from Eaton Business School in the United Arab Emirates. He also holds a BA (Hons) in Business Management from the University of Lincoln, along with several additional diplomas and professional certifications in technology governance, cyber security and management.
Commenting on his appointment, Farmer said technology will remain central to how banks deliver services and operate efficiently in an increasingly digital financial environment.
“Technology is central to how modern banks deliver value to their clients and operate at scale. I look forward to working with the team at Standard Bank Namibia to strengthen the bank’s digital foundations, advance modern technology platforms and support a banking experience that is secure, efficient and trusted,” he said.
Standard Bank Namibia said the appointment strengthens its executive leadership team as the bank continues to advance its technology and digital transformation strategy.
This article was first published here in partnership with The Brief