The management of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, on Thursday appointed Patrick Akinwuntan Managing Director-designate, pending regulatory approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He replaces Charles Kie, whose exit from the Ecobank Group was also announced to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) 10 days earlier on Monday, July 9, 2018, by Madibinet Cisse, ETI’s Company Secretary (READ HERE.
Akinwuntan, a seasoned banker with over 20 years of senior and executive management experience, began his forage in the group in 1996 as Head of Commercial Bank and Regional Head in Ecobank Nigeria, after which he rose to the position of Executive Director Retail Bank, it is some form of home-coming.
Before the latest appointment, the new MD-designate was the Group Executive, Consumer Banking, responsible for leading the Consumer Banking business across Ecobank’s global network of 40 countries, 36 of which are in Africa.
He has also held several strategic positions for the Ecobank Group in Ghana and Togo, where he was Group Chief Finance officer, ETI, Group Executive Director, Operations & Technology, amongst others.
Prior to joining Ecobank Group, Akinwuntan was General Manager, Springfountain Management Consultants, Lagos from 1993 – 1996; Deputy Manager – Corporate Finance, Credit and Marketing, Manufacturers Merchant Bank Plc, Lagos from 1991 – 1993, and was a Supervisor in Ernst & Young International (Chartered Accountants), Lagos from 1987 – 1991.
A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), he is an honorary senior member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. He holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, besides being an alumnus of the senior executive program (SEP) of the Harvard Business school.
A statement by the group on Monday however restated its earlier resolve that “the outgoing Managing Director, Charles Kie, will continue to manage Ecobank Nigeria throughout the transition period and ensure a smooth handover to Mr Akinwuntan.”
This, it said, is in line with our leadership and business continuity procedures, extending gratitude to “Kie for his tremendous contributions to Ecobank Nigeria’s development and (wishing) him every success in his future endeavours.”