Outgoing Absa Bank boss Jeremy Awori named EcoBank Group CEO
Togo-based PanAfrican lender Ecobank Group has tapped outgoing Absa Bank Kenya boss Jeremy Awori as its next Chief Executive Officer.
Mr Awori, 51, will be replacing the current Group CEO, Ade Ayeyemi, who will be retiring after attaining the age of 60.
“Jeremy Awori is a highly respected leader in the banking industry with significant achievements in his previous capacities. The Board of Directors strongly believes that his drive and strong focus on results will be vital in steering the Group in its next phase” Alain Nkontchou, Ecobank Group Chairman, said.
Ecobank Group serves over 32 million customers cutting across consumer, commercial and corporate and investment banking sectors across 33 African countries and employs about 13,000 people.
At the moment, the Group operates a banking license in France and has representative offices in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Johannesburg, South Africa; Beijing, China; London, the UK and Dubai, the United Arab Emirates markets.
Mr Awori is joining Ecobank Group following a 25-year long career in the banking industry, with almost a decade leading Absa Bank Kenya Plc as the CEO and Managing Director where he championed several initiatives such as WhatsApp banking.
Read also: Absa declares dividend as net earnings rise 13 percent to Sh6.3 billion
Before joining Absa, Mr Awori held multiple leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank across the Middle-East and Africa. He brings a wealth of experience, skills, and industry know-how to the Ecobank Group, the lender said.
“I look forward to consolidating the transformation of Ecobank, a truly pan-African institution full of talented people, while innovating to create value for all Ecobank’s stakeholders. I am humbled by the opportunity to contribute to the continent’s economic development and financial integration with Ecobank Group,” Mr Awori said on his appointment.
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (‘ETI’) is the parent company of the Ecobank Group, is listed on the Nigerian Exchange in Lagos, the Ghana Stock Exchange in Accra, Ghana, and the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Last week the Board of Absa Bank Kenya announced the exit of Mr Awori from the bank on October 31 adding that he has “decided to pursue a career opportunity outside the Absa Group.”
