Ecobank removes Tanoh, appoints Essien as CEO

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated on Tuesday appointed Mr. Albert Essien as the Group Chief Executive Officer of the bank with immediate effect.

Essien, hitherto the bank’s Deputy CEO/ Group Executive Director for Corporate and Investment, replaces Mr. Thierry Tanoh as the CEO of the bank.

ETI at its meeting in Lome, Togo, on Tuesday announced the departure of Tanoh from the bank with immediate effect. It also stated in a statement on that the outgoing CEO would no longer be a Director of ETI.

The statement said Essien had been at Ecobank for over 20 years, rising to the position of Deputy Group CEO in 2012.

It stated, “Prior to becoming Deputy CEO, Essien was the Regional Head for the Anglophone West Africa (excluding Nigeria) and Eastern and Southern Africa regions. He started his banking career in 1986 with the National Investment Bank in Accra, Ghana and joined the Corporate Banking Department of Ecobank Ghana in 1990. In 1997, he became Country Risk Manager.

Announcing the change of guard, ETI Interim Chairman, André Siaka, said, “We wish to thank Thierry Tanoh for his service to Ecobank and we wish him every success in the future. We believe that Mr Albert Essien has the experience and knowledge that Ecobank needs to take us forward as we continue to implement our strategy which is to deliver outstanding customer service, to improve long-term shareholder value and returns and to be the employer of choice in our markets.”

Speaking after his appointment, Essien said, “I have been working for Ecobank for more than 20 years and I am proud of what we have achieved so far. I am committed to achieving our vision of building a world class pan-African bank which contributes to the economic development and financial integration of Africa and to our mission of providing our retail and wholesale customers with convenient, accessible and reliable financial products and services.”