The Board of Directors of Ecobank Nigeria Limited Thursday announced the appointment of Patrick Akinwuntan as the Managing Director (MD) designate of the bank. This followed the recent resignation of the MD of the bank, Charles Kie.
A statement from the bank said that the appointment is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Prior to the appointment, Akinwuntan 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 over 20 years of senior and executive management experience and has held several strategic positions for the Ecobank Group in Ghana, Togo, and Nigeria.
He had previously been a Group Executive Director on the Board of ETI and earlier, Executive Director in Ecobank Nigeria.
Akinwuntan, started his career with Ecobank in 1996 as Head of Commercial Bank and Regional Head in Ecobank Nigeria and since then he has held various senior and executive positions in Nigeria and within the Ecobank Group, including Executive Director, Retail Bank, Ecobank Nigeria, Group Chief Finance Officer, ETI, Group Executive Director, Operations & Technology, amongst others.
Prior to joining Ecobank, he was a 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 Ernest & Young International (Chartered Accountants), Lagos from 1987 – 1991. A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), he also holds a Masters in Business Administration from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
“In line with our leadership and business continuity procedures, the outgoing Managing Director, Charles Kie, will continue to manage Ecobank Nigeria throughout the transition period and ensure a smooth handover to Mr Akinwuntan,” the statement explained.