Mr. Jeremy Awori on Wednesday 1st of March officially assumed duty as Chief Executive Officer of the Ecobank Group.
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of the Ecobank Group, announced the development from its headquarters in Lome, Togo.
Awori’s appointment as CEO was first announced by the Board last September as the then incumbent, Mr. Ade Ayeyemi was retiring as Group CEO after he attained the age of 60, in accordance with ETI policy.
Ayeyemi was Group CEO for seven years and was credited by the bank’s Group Chairman Alain Nkontchou as, “leading the implementation of the Roadmap to Leadership strategy, navigating Ecobank through challenges, seizing opportunities, and positioning Ecobank for sustainable long-term growth.”
The new CEO, Awori, is joining Ecobank Group after a twenty-five-year long career in the banking industry, with almost a decade leading Absa Bank Kenya Plc as Managing Director & CEO.
Commenting on his new role, Mr. Awori said it is a fantastic opportunity to take Ecobank to the next level of its growth strategy. Noting that despite current global challenges, Africa offers promising prospects, he stated that Ecobank is uniquely positioned to provide systematic change across the banking sector at a pan-African level, using the geographic footprint it has already established.
He declared: “Through our single gateway platform, we are well-positioned to provide the necessary financial products and solutions for countries, corporates, and SMEs to capitalise on the continent’s vast resource, trade and investment opportunities. We also provide relevant, accessible, and affordable financial services that address the evolving needs of a vibrant, youthful, and entrepreneurial continent. Ecobank’s brand and heritage continue to be a source of pride.”
In his own comment, Group Chairman Alain Nkontchou, noted that Jeremy Awori’s exceptional and proven qualities as a result-oriented effective leader with an extensive knowledge of the African banking landscape, make him the ideal choice to steer the growth of the Ecobank Group through the current era of rapid global and continental changes.
Jeremy Awori has previously served as the Chairman of the Kenya Bankers Association and was a former board member of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA). He is also a Board Member of the United Nations Global Compact Network Kenya.
He has received various prestigious awards in recognition of his outstanding achievements. These include being named one of the top two business leaders on the continent at the All-Africa Business Leaders Awards (AABLA), as well as Top CEO Impacting Business in East Africa by Business Monthly magazine three consecutive years (2020 to 2022). He is a Fellow of both the Aspen Global Leadership Institute and African Leadership Initiative.
The new Ecobank CEO is passionate about driving the gender agenda in business and organisations. He was appointed by the President of Kenya to serve as a board member and lead fundraiser of the Kenya Emergency Covid-19 Fund, to steer the private sector response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He has an MBA from McGill University Canada and a BSc in Pharmacy from Manchester University, UK.
