Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of the Ecobank Group, has announced the appointment of its current Group Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Ayo Adepoju, as Group Executive Director.
The appointment, approved by the Board of Directors, took effect on June 4, 2025.
The elevation of Adepoju to the board underscores Ecobank’s strategic focus on consolidating its executive leadership with individuals possessing deep institutional knowledge and proven operational excellence. With over 20 years of professional experience in financial management, capital markets, and enterprise transformation, Adepoju’s appointment marks a critical step in advancing the Group’s growth, resilience, and governance agenda.
Ayo Adepoju, a seasoned finance executive and long-time member of the Ecobank family, joined the Group in 2012 and has since served in several key roles including Group Financial Controller, Group Head of Business Performance and Analytics and most recently as Group CFO.
He has played a central role in shaping the bank’s financial strategy, executing capital market transactions such as Eurobonds and Basel III-compliant instruments, and enhancing investor relations and financial transparency.
Commenting on the appointment, Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, Chairman of Ecobank Group, stated: “On behalf of the Board, I commend Ayo for his outstanding contributions and warmly welcome him as Group Executive Director. His leadership is aligned with our philosophy of growing talent internally. Ayo represents a new generation of African leadership—homegrown, globally exposed, and impact-driven.”
Group Chief Executive Officer, Jeremy Awori, also praised Adepoju’s promotion, saying: “Ayo has been instrumental in strengthening Ecobank’s financial foundation. His strategic insight, collaborative leadership, and ability to align financial management with enterprise transformation have been invaluable. I look forward to continuing our partnership as we execute our Growth, Transformation & Returns strategy.”
Adepoju is a First-Class graduate of the University of Lagos and a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the UK-based Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA).
He holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, USA.
He has also completed advanced executive programs at Wharton, London Business School, and the Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program in 2024.
Before joining Ecobank, Adepoju worked with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in both London and Lagos, focusing on the financial services sector.
His broad-based expertise covers capital structuring, risk-based audits, treasury operations, and financial due diligence.
Adepoju is also a recognized thought leader and published author in finance and strategy. He is a member of the Forbes Finance Council and continues to advocate for sustainable finance and leadership excellence across Africa’s banking landscape.
His appointment reaffirms Ecobank’s commitment to talent development and succession planning, as the Group intensifies efforts to build a leadership pipeline aligned with its pan-African growth ambitions.
