Management Board

Bledar Shella, an Albanian national, holds a degree in Finance and Accounting from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana (Albania) and he is a Chartered Financial Analyst from the CFA Institute. He began his career in October 2000 in the Forex Reserve Management, at the Monetary Operations Department at Bank of Albania.

In April 2004 he was appointed Deputy Head of Bank of Albania’s Supervision Department and Head of Inspections. After an eight-year experience at the Bank of Albania, in July 2008 he joined Societe Generale Albania as a Chief Risk Officer.

Bledar Shella has also an academic experience that started in October 2000 as a professor in Finance at the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana. From March 2013 till June 2014 he was a Lecturer for Advanced Financial Analysis, part of the Master’s Degree Program at the European University of Tirana.

In March 2015 he was proposed and elected Deputy General Manager of Societe Generale Albania, in charge of Retail Banking Division. Since December 2018, he has been elected Chief Executive Officer of Societe Generale Albania.

Ms. Gentjana Ciceri joined OTP Bank Albania in March 2026 as a Member of the Management Board and Manager of Retail Division, bringing over two decades of extensive experience in the Albanian banking industry. In her current role, she leads the Retail Division’s strategy, focusing on sustainable growth of market share, accelerating digital innovation, and fostering a culture of excellence in customer service.

Prior to joining OTP Bank Albania, Ms. Ciceri held a number of senior leadership positions in the banking sector, where she led major transformational initiatives in the field of Retail banking. Throughout her career, she has made a significant contribution to the modernization of the banking ecosystem in Albania by implementing complex projects focused on innovation, digitalization, and increased operational efficiency.

Ms. Ciceri holds a degree in Finance from the University of Tirana and has completed a range of international postgraduate programs in the areas of strategic leadership and financial management, which have further deepened her professional expertise and her ability to lead in dynamic and competitive environments.

Csaba Csikós – Chief Risk Officer

Since October 2024 Csaba Csikós is the Chief Risk Officer and a member of the Management Board at OTP Bank Albania. Before joining OTP Bank Albania, from February 2020 he served as Chief Risk Officer at SKB Banka d.d., where he successfully managed the bank’s risk framework until its merger with NKBM. Prior to this, Csaba held the position of Chief Risk Officer at Khan Bank in Mongolia, overseeing comprehensive risk management for one of the country’s largest financial institutions.

Earlier in his career, Csaba held leadership roles in risk management and credit management with prominent banks including Raiffeisen Bank Hungary, K&H Bank, CIB bank (subsidiary of Intesa) where he gained extensive expertise in credit risk, portfolio optimization, and regulatory compliance. He started his career at Citibank Hungary.

With over 20 years of international experience, Csaba has spearheaded high-impact projects such as optimizing credit processes, product development and implementing real estate development finance.

Csaba holds advanced degrees in Business Administration from Corvinus University Budapest, MA in international relations from Institut Européen des Hautes Études Internationales, Nice France and Greek and French linguistics from ELTE University, complemented by executive education in AI and climate change economics from the London Business School and LSE. Besides his native Hungarian, he is fluent in multiple languages (English, French, Greek) and brings a global perspective to his role.

Ferid Shijaku, an Albanian national, graduated with Msc. in Mechanical Engineering from Polytechnic University of Tirana and joint MBA from University of Nebraska (USA) and University of Tirana.

He has covered a wide spectrum in business lending and services, from micro finance to large companies, from plain vanilla lending to equity, mezzanine, structured and project financing, in his over 20 years of banking experience.

Mr. Shijaku has held various positions in lending and banking services, head of loans, investment analyst, head of credit risk, and lastly as head of corporate and sales in the bank. He had a significant contribution along with other team members in the Bank that transformed corporate banking into an important player in the banking sector.

Mr. Shijaku recently managing Business Banking Division in OTP Bank Albania, joined the bank in 2010 as division deputy, Head of the Corporate Department. He is well-rooted in the local business community and regards his job as a contribution for that community. Mr. Shijaku enjoys sharing his experience advising businesses and coaching young people in career advancement.

Attila Kovacs, a Hungarian citizen, holds a Master’s degree in Finance and Information Management from Corvinus University of Economic Sciences (2003) and a joint MBA degree in Business Administration from Maastricht School of Management and SEED Hungary (2018).

He started his career in 2003 as a BI expert at OTP Bank in Hungary and has held various managerial positions in finance within the Strategy and Finance Division, as well as in M&A within the Corporate Banking Division. From 2009 to 2016, he served as the Head of the Planning Consolidation Department, and in 2016, he was appointed as the Head of Hungarian Strategy, Planning, and Controlling Department. In 2019, he joined the M&A team and was responsible for the execution of acquisition activities at OTP Group.

In 2022, Attila Kovacs was appointed as the Chairman of the Supervisory Board at PortfoLion Capital Partners, the venture capital arm of OTP Group.
In July 2023, he joined the Bank as Manager of Finance Division (Chief Financial Officer) and became a Member of the Management Board at OTP Bank Albania.

Mrs. Zhaneta Pllaha, an Albanian citizen, graduated in Mathematics from the Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Tirana, Albania.

Her career in the banking system began in 1999 in the IT Department at the National Savings Bank (today RZB).

In 2003, she joined the founding group of the Banka Popullore (now OTP Bank Albania), a project that was successfully completed in March 2004.

Mrs. Pllaha was appointed Manager of Technological Developments Department of Banka Popullore, and in 2009 she was appointed Manager of Projects and Organization Department at Societe Generale Bank until 2017 when she was appointed Manager of Operational Division at Societe Generale Bank in Mozambique.

In 2020, Mrs. Pllaha was appointed Manager of Projects, Organization and Electronic Channels Department at OTP Bank Albania.

During the period 2022-2023, she assumed the role of Project Manager for the merger of OTP Bank Albania with Alpha Bank.

In December 2022, Mrs. Pllaha was appointed Manager of Strategy and Innovation Department.

Altin Gjika is an Albanian citizen, graduated in Informatics in the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the University of Tirana (1992). He also holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Business Management & Technology from the University of Sheffield (2013).

He got his start as a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) programmer in USAID funded projects. In 2000, he started his career in the banking system, joining the IT team of BKT. He contributed to this bank as an IT systems programmer, Data Base Administrator and Assistant Manager of the IT Department until 2008.

In October 2008, he joined Societe Generale Bank Albania as Director of the Information Technology Department.

Mr. Gjika also has an academic background. From 1995 to 2001, he served as an external lecturer of the Informatics course at the Faculty of Economics, Tirana.

As an Information Technology Manager, with a long experience in the banking system, Mr. Gjika has made a significant contribution to all the transformative projects of the bank and the implementation of modern technologies.

In June 2024, Mr. Gjika was appointed Director of the IT Division and Member of the Management Board at OTP Bank Albania.

Jonila Janku, an Albanian national, is a Business Administration graduate from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana (Albania) and she holds a Master’s Degree in the same field from the University of New York, Tirana.

With 15 years of experience in the private sector, holding several managerial positions, Jonila Janku is an expert in the local market of the Media, Marketing and Communication. Jonila Janku began her career in April 2003 as an Account Manager at Albvision ltd and then continued her career at Top Media Group.

In August 2004, she established the subsidiary of Grey World Wide agency in Albania and then she took over the management of this agency. From August 2005 until January 2015, she built her 10 years career as Head of Marketing Department at Digitalb SH.A, the largest PAY TV and the strongest local Brand in Albania, creating this department as the company was just established.

In February 2015 she was appointed Deputy CEO of the KA Trading sh.p.k. Tirana, Albania in charge of Commercial Department as well. In addition, she has given her contribution as an external lecturer and speaker in several educational institutions such as UET, UNYT and “Aleksander Moisiu” University in Durres.

Jonila Janku joined Societe Generale Albania in November 2015 as the Manager of Marketing Department.

Mr. Erjon Taçe an Albanian citizen, graduated in 2000 in “Finance and Accounting” with the profile “Bank”, from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana, Albania and holds a Master’s degree in the same field from the Assistance Center of the Financial Institution and Development “Giordano Dell’Amore”, Republic of Italy.

He started his career in June 2000 at the Savings Bank (today Raiffeisen Bank). Until February 2004, he worked in the Treasury and Investment Department, in the Dealing Room, as a trader in Foreign Exchange and Money Market.

In February 2004, Erjon Taçe joined the bank that as it was newly established (the former People’s Bank), managing the Treasury activity of the bank. In 2007, the bank became part of the Societe Generale Group. He managed the shift of the Treasury Department towards a commercial focus as part of the Business banking.

In 2019 the bank became part of OTP group. Erjon Taçe is currently in the position of Treasury Department Manager, in a challenging environment, which is part of a developing market and the bank’s target is to become the leader.

Rajeda Sinoimeri, an Albanian national, is a Finance and Accounting graduate from the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana, in Albania and she holds a Master’s Degree in Financial Markets and Banking Management from the European University of Tirana.

Rajeda Sinoimeri began her career as EWS specialist for the control of problematic loans from corporates at a commercial bank in Albania. Mrs. Sinoimeri’s first experience as an auditor started in 2010 at PwC Albania.

In November 2012, she joined the auditing company Gjini Consulting ltd as Senior Auditor, a function she held for a period of 2 years. From January 2015, Ms. Sinoimeri has held the position of Senior Auditor at the international auditing firm Mazars in Albania, headquartered in Tirana, for one year.

From November 2015 until August 2020 Mrs. Sinoimeri has been part of one of the Big 4 audit firms, Deloitte Albania ltd, where she was dedicated to the audit of Italian clients in the role of Audit Manager.

Rajeda Sinoimeri is finalizing the process of obtaining the ACCA qualification. After a ten years’ experience in audit, tax and assurance services, in September 2020, she joined OTP Bank Albania as the Manager of Internal Audit Department.

Sonila Shkodrani completed her university degree in France, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Law from the Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, University of Rennes 1.

During 2020, Mrs. Shkodrani was granted the title of “Doctor of Law” from the same University. The professional career of Mrs. Shkodrani started with the Tax Department of PwC, Société d’Avocats, Paris, France. Then she joined the Siemens Group, in Paris, until the end of 2012 in the position of tax lawyer.

At the same time, he has carried out some research on the topics “Fiscal Aspects of American Investments in France” or “Fiscal Discrimination according to the European Court of Human Rights”, the results of which she presented at Georgetown University in Washington, and New York Law School, USA.

In January 2013 Mrs. Shkodrani joins Societe Generale Albania Bank as a lawyer and is then promoted to Head of the Legal Sector.

During the period February 2014-2015 Mrs. Shkodrani has been an external lecturer at the European University of Tirana for the subject of Business Law and Bankruptcy Law at the Master of Science level.

From December 2022, she holds the position of Manager of the Legal and Secretariat Department at Bank OTP Albania sh.a.

Eralda Disha has studied Finance-Banking at the Faculty of Economics, University of Tirana and graduated in 2010. Immediately after completing her studies, she joined Societe Generale Albania Bank as Administrative Assistant at the Department of the General Secretariat.

Additionally, during 2013-2015, she attended postgraduate studies, obtaining a Professional Master’s Degree in Finance. In 2014, Eralda Disha moved to the position of Compliance and AML Specialist in the Permanent Supervision Sector. This moment marked a turning point in her career path focusing on the areas of risk management.

In 2018, she was promoted as Head of Operational Risk Sector which she managed for a short period of nearly 2 years during which the Bank became part of the OTP Group. In September 2019, Eralda Disha returns to compliance risk management and AML as Head of this Sector, which she led for about three years.

Currently, Eralda Disha has been appointed Manager of Compliance and AML Department, which aims to protect the Bank’s activity and ensure sustainability in an increasingly challenging environment.

Graduated from the Polytechnic University of Tirana in Telecommunication Engineering, with 20 years of experience in managing information and security systems and leading teams with a focus on banking security.
The last role was in a second-tier bank, where he led the security team and had the responsibility of supervising and implementing the bank’s security program.
Currently, Mr. Xhango holds the role of the Chairman of the Cyber​​Security Committee in the Albanian Association of Banks. International certifications in the field of information technology and cyber security are as follows: ISACA Certified Information Security Manager, ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, and ITIL4.

Mrs. Ilva Çela graduated in Finance at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Tirana and subsequently attended the University and Master’s Studies at the Faculty of Law at the same University. Ilva started her career initially in the field of Marketing, before completing her university studies, and contributed to this industry for more than 3 years.

The first experience in the field of Human Resources dates back to 2011 at OTP Bank Albania (former Banka Société Générale Albania), initially in the position of Human Resources Department Specialist and then in the position of HR Business Partner. During her employment in this Bank, Mrs. Çela has been part of the Retail Division as well, for a period of 2 years.

During the period August 2018 to July 2023, she was part of the human resources team in one of the second level banks in Albania, where she recently held the position of Recruitment Manager.

With an extended professional experience in the banking sector and a comprehensive background in HR management, Mrs. Çela returns to OTP Bank, in the position of Human Resources Department Manager.