As Akinwuntan retires, Ecobank appoints Lawal new Nigeria MD

As Akinwuntan retires, Ecobank appoints Lawal new Nigeria MD

Ecobank Group has appointed Jubril Mobolaji Lawal as the managing director designate of its Nigeria operations and its regional executive;  subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The appointment is made ahead of the upcoming retirement of Patrick Akinwuntan, the current MD. Mr Akinwuntan will retire after reaching retirement age in January 2022, the bank said.

“Mobolaji Lawal joins 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,” the statement said.

Advertisement

“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.”

The bank said Mr Mobolaji was selected and appointed as managing director designate following a keenly contested selection process, which included both internal and external candidates. He holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria; B.L. from the Nigerian Law School and a Master of Business Administration from Oxford University, United Kingdom.

Advertisement

The current MD, Mr Akinwuntan, will retire in January 2022, upon reaching the retirement age. He started his career with Ecobank in 1996.

He has held various senior and executive management positions in the over 25 years he has spent with the Ecobank Group, during which he has been based in Ghana, Togo and Nigeria.

The bank said: “Before his appointment as Regional Executive and Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick was the Group Executive, Consumer Banking, where he was responsible for leading the Consumer Banking business across Ecobank’s global network of 39 countries, 35 of which are in Africa.

Advertisement

“He managed the Group’s digital transformation journey and has been instrumental in the development of the world class digital products and services that Ecobank provides today.

“Akinwuntan is a seasoned banker who also previously was on the Board of ETI as a Group Executive Director and held the positions of Group Chief Finance Officer of ETI, Group Executive Director Domestic Bank, Operations, Technology, Transaction and Retail Bank, including Executive Director, Retail Bank at Ecobank Nigeria among others.

“The business in Nigeria is on the path to regaining its respect and transformation. Under Patrick’s leadership, Ecobank has won several global, regional and national awards.

Ade Ayeyemi, CEO, Ecobank Group, said: “We warmly congratulate Patrick as he prepares to retire having given over 25 years of solid contributions to Ecobank. I extend my immense gratitude to Patrick for his long, illustrious and successful career that is now culminating in a well-deserved retirement. His contributions to the Ecobank Group have been invaluable. On behalf of the entire Ecobank Group, I thank him for his years of commitment to the pan-African ideals of Ecobank, his loyalty and hard work in the various positions he has held, most recently as Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, where he has repositioned the franchise for growth. Patrick is leaving an indelible mark and will continue to be a cherished member of the Ecobank family.

Advertisement

Patrick Akinwuntan said: “It has been a rare privilege to have had the honour of serving for over a quarter of a century at Africa’s most exciting and unrivalled Pan-African Banking Champion, Ecobank. I am exceedingly thankful to God, my family, friends, all Ecobankers, our founders, shareholders, regulators and all our customers and stakeholders for the support and help that they have given on this journey.” In line with Ecobank’s leadership and business continuity procedures, Patrick Akinwuntan will continue to manage Ecobank Nigeria and will ensure a smooth handover and transition to his successor.”

No Comments

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.