ECOBANK Transnational Incorporated (ETI)- the Lomé-based banking group, said it is poised to remain the top pan-African financial institution through continuous pursuit of the continent’s financial integration. Besides, the banking group said it will continuously leverage on expertise and hands-on experience of its workforce to bring about its resolve to deliver world-class services.
The Chairman of ETI, Emmanuel Ikazoboh, who made the disclosure, said the financial institution’s recent appointments were informed by the need realise the dual objectives of establishing a strong brand and contributing meaningfully to the continent’s development.
“Our board has been strengthened tremendously by the collective experience of our new members, who joined us in our resolve to deliver on our dual objective of making Ecobank a world-class pan-African bank and one that relentlessly contributes to the economic development and financial integration of Africa,” he said.
Meanwhile, ETI appointed four new non-executive directors to its 15-member board and retiring one non-executive director. The new board members are Dolika Banda of Zambia, Graham Dempster of South Africa, Sheila Mmbijjewe of Kenya, and Alain Nkontchou of Cameroon.These new board members collectively bring 120 years of experience in banking and finance to the leadership of the world’s largest pan-African bank.
Dolika Banda, 51, of Zambia is an economist and communicator on the African economy, as well as an Independent Consultant and Advisor to the United Nations, Rockefeller Foundation, the Gates Foundation and several governments. Dolika is a former advisor and director at the International Finance Corporation, where she worked for 16 years. She held senior positions at Barclays Bank Zambia and Citibank Zambia and was recognised with a prize for vision and courage by Africa Femmes Performantes (Africa’s Performing Women) in Washington, DC in 2012.
Graham Dempster, 59, of South Africa, has over 30 years banking experience and has held various senior executive positions within the Nedbank Group, including General Manager and Joint Head of UAL Merchant Bank’s Special Finance Division, Head of Nedbank’s International Division and Managing Director of Nedbank Corporate, among others.
Sheila Mmbijjewe, 56, of Kenya, is a Chartered Accountant (England and Wales) and Certified Public Accountant (Kenya).She is former Finance Director at Pricewaterhouse Kenya, Stagecoach International and Standard Chartered Bank of Kenya and until early 2014, a member of the Monetary Policy Committee of the Central Bank of Kenya. Her board experience includes directorships on the boards of Transparency International Kenya Chapter, the University of Nairobi Science and Technology Park, and Capital Markets of Kenya, as well as Vice Chair of the Kenya Women’s Finance Trust.
Alain Nkontchou, 51, of Cameroon, is the Managing Partner of Enko Capital Management LLP, London, an asset management company focusing mostly on African investment opportunities.He was the Managing Director, Global Macro Trading Group at Credit Suisse, London, and at JP Morgan Chase & Co. London and will formally join the ETI Board in June 2015.
