Business
Ecobank Group Strengthens Leadership Team with Strategic Top-level Appointments
These top-level appointments are strategically important as Ecobank enters its next phase of growth and transformation
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LOMÉ, Togo, March 20, 2024/APO Group/ —
Ecobank (www.Ecobank.com), the pan-African financial services group, announces the appointment of key senior executives to strengthen the Group’s leadership team and to drive delivery of its new Growth, Transformation and Returns (GTR) strategy. Abena Osei-Poku joins as Regional Executive Anglophone West Africa and Managing Director Ecobank Ghana; Martin Miruka as Group Executive for Transformation, Enablement and Customer Experience; Anup Suri as Group Executive, Commercial and Consumer Banking; Michael Larbie as Group Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking; and Thierry Mbimi as Group Executive, Internal Audit & Management Services.
These top-level appointments are strategically important as Ecobank enters its next phase of growth and transformation, aiming to become the bank of choice and a leader in delivering responsive, innovative and affordable financial services’ products and solutions for Africa. Ecobank Group has decided to combine the commercial and the consumer businesses, under the leadership of Anup Suri, underscoring its commitment to strengthening these two business units to drive growth. In addition, the establishment of the new role of Transformation, Enablement, and Customer Experience underscores the Group’s determination to prioritizing the necessary leadership for the successful execution of its transformation.
Jeremy Awori, Chief Executive Officer, Ecobank Group, said: “These appointments are crucial to the execution of our recently announced five-year Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy. I am delighted that Abena Osei-Poku, Martin Miruka, Anup Suri, Michael Larbi, and Thierry Mbimi are joining our leadership team, each bringing proven, valuable, global and African financial services experience. I have no doubt that they will play pivotal roles in driving Ecobank’s future growth and success.”
These appointments are crucial to the execution of our recently announced five-year Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy
Abena Osei Poku joined Ecobank in January. She is an accomplished Pan-African business leader with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Her expertise spans Corporate and Investment banking, Business banking and Risk Management across Africa. Her previous roles include Executive Director for Commercial Banking, responsible for Corporate & Business Banking at Barclays Bank Ghana; Co-Regional Head of Coverage, Corporate & Investment Banking at Absa Bank Group, overseeing East and West Africa; and CEO and Managing Director of Absa Bank Ghana. Abena takes over from Daniel Sackey who is retiring from the Bank. We thank Daniel Sackey for his leadership, commitment, and effective service across the continent over the past 27 years at Ecobank.
Martin Miruka, who joined Ecobank in February, brings with him 25 years’ experience as C-suite executive, business strategist, serial entrepreneur, and angel investor with strong credentials on pan-African transformation. His previous roles include Group Head of Business Transformation, Customer Experience, and Innovation at Equity Group Holdings, where he successfully led transformation by breaking the Group’s strategic and operational silos, aligning technology investments with business strategy, and ultimately delivering a branded Customer Experience across multiple African countries. He was also the Founder/CEO of Atom TDF, Kenya’s first indigenous brand strategy and innovation consultancy, and Kava Africa, a fintech/Insurtech based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Anup Suri assumed his new role in March. He brings a wealth of over 30 years of senior leadership experience across various industries and organisations in both developed and emerging markets across Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Europe, the UK, North America and South America. He joins Ecobank Group from HSBC Group where he was Managing Director, Global Head of Retail Sales and Third-Party Distribution. Anup previously held other senior roles at Standard Chartered Group, Standard Chartered Bank and ABN Amro.
Michael Larbie, who assumed his role in March, brings over 25 years of global senior financial services and investment banking experience. He served as CEO of International & Broader Africa at Rand Merchant Bank (RMB), prior to which he held the positions of CEO & Managing Director of RMB Nigeria and Regional Head of West Africa, as well as Head of Coverage & Investment Banking for Africa (excluding South Africa). His experience also includes senior investment banking roles at Merrill Lynch and senior project management roles at American International Group. Michael takes over from Eric Odhiambo, who will retire from Ecobank at the end of April. We thank Eric Odhiambo for his unwavering commitment, invaluable contribution, and dedicated service over the past six and a half years, first as Chief Risk Officer and then as Group Executive of Corporate and Investment Banking.
Thierry Mbimi, who also started in March, has 27 years of extensive industry and consulting experience, with the last 17 years in director-level roles. He brings with him a wealth of global experience in audit and risk management, complemented by a solid background in technology. Thierry was the CEO & Managing Partner for KPMG Central Africa (Audit, Tax, and Advisory), prior to which he held several roles in the organisation, including Partner and Head of West Africa Financial Risk Management, Lead Partner for the Financial Services Sector in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa and Global Services Lead Partner for the African Development Bank.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.
Events
As global power structures shift, Invest Africa convenes The Africa Debate 2026 to redefine partnership in a changing world
The Africa Debate 2026 will provide a platform for this essential, era-defining discussion, convening leaders to explore how Africa and its partners can build more balanced, resilient and sustainable models of cooperation
Now in its 12th year, The Africa Debate has established itself as London’s premier platform for African investment dialogue since launching in 2014, convening over 800 global decision-makers annually to shape the future of trade, finance, investment, and development across the continent.
Under the theme “Redefining Partnership: Navigating a World in Transition”, this year’s forum will focus on Africa’s response to global economic realignment with greater agency, ambition and economic sovereignty.
The Africa Debate puts Africa’s priorities at the centre of the conversation, moving beyond traditional narratives to focus on ownership, resilience and long-term value creation.
“Volatility is not new to Africa. What is changing is the opportunity to respond with greater agency and ambition,” says Invest Africa CEO Chantelé Carrington.
“This year’s edition of The Africa Debate asks how we strengthen economic sovereignty — from access to capital and investment to financial and industrial policy — so African economies can take greater ownership of their growth. Success will be defined by how effectively we turn disruption into leverage and partnership into shared value.”
The Africa Debate 2026 will provide a platform for this essential, era-defining discussion, convening leaders to explore how Africa and its partners can build more balanced, resilient and sustainable models of cooperation.
Key challenges driving the debate
Core focus areas for this year’s edition of The Africa Debate include:
This year’s edition of The Africa Debate asks how we strengthen economic sovereignty — from access to capital and investment to financial and industrial policy
Global Realignment & New Partnerships
How shifting geopolitical and economic power structures are reshaping Africa’s global partnerships, trade dynamics and investment landscape.
Financing Africa’s Future
The growing need to reform the global financial architecture, new approaches to development finance, as well as the strengthening of market access and financial resilience of African economies in a changing global system.
Strategic Value Chains
Moving beyond primary exports to build local value chains in critical minerals for the green economy. Also addressing Africa’s energy access gap and mobilising investment in renewable and transitional energy systems.
Digital Transformation & Technology
Unlocking growth in fintech, AI and digital infrastructure to drive productivity, inclusion, and the next phase of Africa’s economic transformation.
The Africa Debate 2026 offers a unique platform for high-level dialogue, deal-making, and strategic engagement. Attendees will gain actionable insights from leading policymakers, investors and business leaders shaping Africa’s economic future, while building strategic partnerships that define the continent’s next growth phase.
Registration is now open (http://apo-opa.co/46b19gj).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Invest Africa.
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