Ecobank Nigeria Gets New Managing Director

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated ('ETI'), the parent company of the Ecobank Group, a leading independent pan-African banking group with over 29 million customers spread across 33 African countries, today, December 6, 2021, appointed Jubril Mobolaji Lawal as Regional Executive and Managing Designate for Ecobank Nigeria, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

The appointment was made ahead of Patrick Akinwuntan’s upcoming retirement due to his reaching the retirement age in January 2022.

The bank informed the investing public, its shareholders, and the Nigerian stock market about its decision to appoint Mobolaji Lawal.

According to a press release sent from its corporate head office situated at Lome, Togo, the bank enjoined its shareholders and customers to support its decision to appoint Mobolaji Lawal after coming out on top in a rigorous interview process.

"Mobolaji Lawal joined Ecobank having been a versatile senior banking executive and digital transformation specialist for over 28 years with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.

"He has deep involvement and experience in digital and retail banking, corporate and commercial banking, credit risk management, and corporate finance. " Adenike Laoye, the Group Head, Corporate Communication and Chief of Staff to the C.E.O, said.

His previous experience includes being Executive Director at GTBank Plc Nigeria and Non-Executive Director roles at both GTBank Ghana Limited and Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems Plc.

"Mobolaji led the team that envisioned and implemented GTBank Plc’s retail and digital banking strategy to achieve industry-wide leadership over a ten-year period, and he introduced new products and solutions that have helped to deepen payments and access to digital financial services in Nigeria."

"Mobolaji was selected and appointed as Managing Director designate following a keenly contested selection process, which included both internal and external candidates." She emphasized

A brief description of his academic background was also given in the press release.

Mobolaji Lawal has a Bachelor of Laws from Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria, a B.L. from the Nigerian Law School, and a Master of Business Administration from Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

He has also attended several executive management and banking-specific developmental programs at leading educational institutions, including Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD). "

While commenting on the appointment, Ade Ayeyemi, CEO of Ecobank Group, expressed gladness and confidence in the repertoire of skills and experience Mobolaji Lawal brings to the table.

He believes that with his skills, Ecobank Nigeria can maintain the customer base and value growth trajectory that his management has begun.

According to him, "We welcome Mobolaji Lawal to the Ecobank Group and we stand to benefit from the extensive experience that he has acquired in various fields across banking, which will play a major role in continuing to rebuild our franchise in Nigeria."

Nigeria is a key market for us in which we have seen significant improvement over the past three years as we reposition and leverage upon our pan-African strengths in digital products and services, payments, and as the go-to-bank for businesses seeking to grasp the growth opportunities being created by the AfCFTA across all our markets on the continent. I wish Mobolaji the best and assure him of both my support and that of the entire Ecobank Group."