Ecobank Transnational Incorporated Announces New Group CEO

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, the parent company of the leading independent pan-African banking group, Ecobank, with presence in 35 African countries including Tanzania announced the departure of Group CEO Mr Thierry Tanoh with effect from 12 March 2014.

Effective the same date he will no longer be a Director of ETI.

Mr Tanoh will be replaced by Mr Albert Essien, currently Deputy CEO/ Group Executive Director for Corporate and Investment Bank, with immediate effect.

Mr Albert Essien has been at Ecobank for more than twenty years rising to the position of Deputy Group CEO two years ago.

Prior to becoming Deputy CEO Mr Essien was the Regional Head for the Anglophone West Africa (excluding Nigeria) and Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) regions.

He was appointed Deputy Managing Director in 2001 and became Managing Director in December 2002.

Announcing the replacement ETI Interim Chairman, André Siaka, said “We believe that Mr Albert Essien has the experience and knowledge that Ecobank needs to take us forward as we continue to implement our strategy which is to deliver outstanding customer service, to improve long-term shareholder value and returns and to be the employer of choice in our markets.”

Speaking as the Board nominated him as the new Group CEO Albert Essien said, “I am committed to achieving our vision of building a world class pan-African bank which contributes to the economic development and financial integration of Africa and to our mission of providing our retail and wholesale customers with convenient, accessible and reliable financial products and services.”

The Board of Directors of ETI also announced that, in line with a directive the Securities and Exchange Commission of Nigeria, Mrs. Laurence do Rego is reinstated as Group Executive Director of Finance and Risk with immediate effect.

During their Board meeting the Directors reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the detailed 51 point Governance Action Plan adopted by shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting held at Ecobank’s Pan African Centre in Lomé on 3 March 2014.

The plan, which is expected to be implemented by the end of April 2014, aims to strengthen governance within the Ecobank Group.

Incorporated in Lomé, Togo, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) is the parent company of the leading independent pan-African banking group, Ecobank is a full-service bank providing wholesale, retail, investment and transaction banking services and products to governments, financial institutions, multinationals, international organizations, medium, small and micro businesses and individuals.

Ecobank started operation in Tanzania in 2010. In 2013 the bank launched the first China Desk in Tanzania to support. Sino-African trade and investment.

Ecobank currently has a presence in 35 African countries, namely: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Congo (Democratic Republic), Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Group is also represented in France through its affiliate EBI SA in Paris.

ETI also has representative offices in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, London, UK and Beijing, China.

ETI is listed on the stock exchanges in Lagos, Accra. The Group employs 19,200 people from 40 different countries in 1,250 branches and offices.