Abie Sano, president of the state-owned Commercial Bank of Ethiopia (CBE), returned to his duties on Monday after several months of medical leave abroad, the bank said, ending a period marked by industry speculation following his absence from major institutional events.

The lender said Abie had completed medical treatment overseas and was “in full health”, according to a statement posted on its official social media channels.

During his absence, Executive Vice President Efrem Mekuria oversaw daily operations, ensuring management continuity at Ethiopia’s largest bank as the country advances broader macroeconomic and financial-sector reforms.

Abie’s extended absence from public appearances and key bank events in recent months had fuelled speculation among market observers about leadership stability, as the bank had not previously disclosed that he was on medical leave.

Upon his return to the bank’s headquarters in Addis Ababa, senior executives held a welcome ceremony. Abie thanked colleagues for maintaining operations and for their support during his recovery.

“I appreciate the leadership team for their diligent and responsible work, ensuring no disruptions occurred while I was on medical leave,” he said, according to the bank’s Facebook post.

Efrem Mekuria, executive vice president for corporate services, said employees had worked collaboratively to avoid any leadership gap during the president’s absence, adding that staff were pleased to see him return in good health.

CBE has reported strong financial performance during the period. In the first half of the 2025/26 fiscal year, the bank posted gross profit of 36.19 billion birr and total income of 124.12 billion birr, surpassing internal targets. Deposits exceeded two trillion birr for the first time, while foreign-exchange earnings reached about 2.4 billion US dollars.

Digital platforms handled more than nine trillion birr in transactions, accounting for nearly eighty-eight percent of total transfers and payments, highlighting rapid growth in electronic banking.

A veteran banker, Abie was appointed president of CBE in March 2020, replacing Bacha Gina, who was later named ambassador. He assumed leadership at a time when the bank faced liquidity pressures, with a loan-to-deposit ratio of about 108 percent, above the industry average.

Abie began his career at CBE and previously served as its president before leaving the role in 2009. He later headed Oromia International Bank and also served as president of the Ethiopian Bankers Association before returning to lead the state lender. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Addis Ababa University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of London.

CBE remains Ethiopia’s largest bank by assets and deposits and plays a central role in financing government priorities and supporting private-sector credit growth.