Ayo Adepoju becomes Group Executive Director of Ecobank Transnational
The Board of Directors of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) (www.Ecobank.com), the parent organization of the Ecobank Group, is delighted to announce the appointment of Ayo Adepoju, the current group chief financial officer (CFO), to the Board as Group Executive Director, effective June 4, 2025.
Ayo brings with him two decades of extensive leadership experience and profound institutional knowledge as a proud product of the Ecobank Group. His areas of expertise include financial management, capital markets, strategic planning, capital raising and structuring, treasury management, investor relations, business performance management, governance, enterprise transformation, financial due diligence, internal control, and risk-based audit.
As a prominent finance executive, he has played a crucial role in shaping the Group’s financial transformation, capital strategy, and long-term resilience. Since his arrival at Ecobank in 2012, he has occupied several significant leadership roles, including Group Financial Controller, Group Head of Business Performance and Analytics, and currently Group CFO.
Throughout the years, Ayo has spearheaded numerous strategic initiatives, including landmark capital market transactions such as Eurobonds, Basel III-compliant instruments, and sustainability-linked debt. These initiatives have greatly enhanced Ecobank’s presence in international capital markets and bolstered transparency and investor engagement. Before joining Ecobank, he was employed at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London and Lagos, where he served in the Financial Services Practice.
Commenting on the recent appointment, Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, the Chairman of the Ecobank Group, remarked: “On behalf of my fellow directors, I would like to commend Ayo for his exceptional performance and extend a warm welcome to him as he joins the ETI board. His established leadership has cultivated trusted relationships with the Board, making this appointment both a natural fit and a strategic move for the Group’s future. I am confident that Ayo exemplifies Ecobank’s revitalized talent philosophy, being a homegrown leader with international experience and an impressive track record. His intellect, integrity, and impact-driven leadership have been evident for some time. His inclusion on the Board is a reflection of our commitment to recognizing and promoting excellence from within.”
Jeremy Awori, the Group Chief Executive Officer, further stated: “Ayo has been instrumental in enhancing Ecobank’s financial resilience and facilitating sustainable business growth. His capacity to navigate complexity, innovate in financial strategy, align finance with enterprise-wide transformation, and lead collaboratively has established him as a vital member of our executive team. I am eager to strengthen our partnership as we advance our Growth, Transformation, and Returns strategy.”
Ayo possesses a First-Class Honours degree from the University of Lagos and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) in the UK. Additionally, he holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University in the USA.
He has participated in executive education programs at Wharton, London Business School, and most recently, in 2024, the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. As an official member of the Forbes Finance Council, he is also a published author and a respected thought leader in finance and organizational strategy. This appointment underscores Ecobank’s ongoing dedication to fostering internal talent and promoting leadership excellence throughout Africa.
