The Ecobank Group’s parent business, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, has announced that Ayo Adepoju, a Nigerian, has been appointed to the board as Group Executive Director.
According to a statement released Friday, the appointment took effect on Wednesday. Before his appointment, Adepoju was the Group’s Chief Financial Officer.
Ayo Adepoju’s areas of expertise
According to ETI, Adepoju’s areas of expertise include enterprise transformation, governance, investor relations, financial due diligence, internal control, risk-based audit, capital markets, strategic planning, capital raising and structuring, treasury management, and business performance management.
“As a distinguished finance executive, he has been instrumental in shaping the Group’s financial transformation, capital strategy, and long-term resilience. Since joining Ecobank in 2012, he has held several key leadership positions, including Group Financial Controller, Group Head of Business Performance and Analytics, and currently Group CFO.”
“Over the years, Ayo has led numerous strategic initiatives, including landmark capital market transactions such as Eurobonds, Basel III-compliant instruments, and sustainability-linked debt. These efforts have significantly enhanced Ecobank’s presence in international capital markets and strengthened transparency and investor engagement,” the statement partly read.
He worked in PricewaterhouseCoopers London and Lagos Financial Services Practices before joining Ecobank.
Encomiums on Ayo Adepoju
Commenting on the appointment, the Chairman of the Ecobank Group, Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, said, “On behalf of my fellow directors, I commend Ayo for his outstanding performance and warmly welcome him to the ETI board. His proven leadership has fostered trusted relationships with the Board and made this appointment both natural and strategic for the Group’s future.”
“I believe that Ayo embodies Ecobank’s renewed talent philosophy, a homegrown leader with global exposure and a compelling track record. His intellect, integrity, and impact-driven leadership have long been evident. His appointment to the Board is a testament to our belief in recognising and elevating excellence from within.”
Group Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Awori added: “Ayo has played a critical role in strengthening Ecobank’s financial resilience and enabling sustainable business growth. His ability to manage complexity, innovate in financial strategy, align finance with enterprise-wide transformation, and lead collaboratively has made him a critical member of our executive team. I look forward to deepening our partnership as we drive forward our Growth, Transformation, and Returns strategy.”
Ayo Adepoju’s portfolio
Ayo is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, UK, and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria.
He graduated with First-Class Honours from the University of Lagos.
He also holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and a PhD in Organisational Leadership from Regent University in the United States.
In 2024, he completed executive education classes at Wharton, London Business School, and Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program.
He is a recognised thought leader in organisational strategy and finance, a published author, and an official member of the Forbes Finance Council.