TheCable

The Board of Ecobank Nigeria limited has announced that Jibril Aku, the bank’s managing director (MD) will step down on December 31, 2015.

Aku, having concluded his five-year tenure as managing director, will step down from his current role, while taking another senior role in the parent company of the bank, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), in the first quarter of 2016.

Aku started his banking career with Citibank (Nigeria International Bank) before joining former Afribank Nigeria Plc as executive director, operations and technology from 2003 to 2005.

Thereafter, he joined Ecobank Nigeria in 2006 as executive director responsible for the bank’s treasury and financial institutions business, following which he was elevated to the position of managing director of Ecobank Nigeria in 2010.

John Aboh, chairman of the Ecobank Nigeria Board, congratulated Aku for a job well done and said he looked forward to the bank improving on the good work that the team had accomplished.

He said the board would immediately activate the process of selecting a successor and announce the candidate before the end of December 2015.

Ade Ayeyemi, group chief executive officer, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, said “Jibril has been instrumental in leading the Ecobank franchise to its position in the Nigeria banking industry”.

“With the Oceanic Bank acquisition, Jibril positioned the bank from number 13 to its current position of number six in the industry”

Aku said he was proud of what he had achieved with a team of committed staff of the bank.

“I am proud of what the Ecobank Nigeria team and I have achieved together, and I thank them for the good work and their unwavering commitment to Ecobank,” he said.

“Our board stood with us, and was steadfast in its support. I must, therefore, extend my sincere appreciation to the board and the team.

“Despite some of the market challenges that we faced over the years, our customers have been loyal, and it is their patronage that led to the achievements we see today.”