Mr. Thierry Tanoh, the incoming Group Chief Executive Officer– Designate of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) is in Kenya for a two day visit. The trip marks his first official visit to the country since his appointment in July 2012 effectively taking over from Mr. Arnold Ekpe, who has been at the helm of the bank.
Tanoh’s visit is viewed as an affirmation of Kenya’s role as the financial services hub for East Africa and is a signal of Ecobank Group’s focus on its Kenya and East Africa business in general.
Mr. Tanoh, who was introduced to the Bank during its June Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Togo, holds a French certified public accountant qualification and a Masters in Business Administration from the Harvard Business School in the United States.
“I am more than honored to have the opportunity to lead this important bank. We have everything we need to be a leader in provision of financial services in Africa. With excellent management, functioning systems, the right values and culture, there is no doubt that we are on the right path to achieving our set objectives. ” Mr. Tanoh told the media in Nairobi.
Prior to his move to Ecobank, Mr. Tanoh, served as the Vice-President of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) overseeing Africa, Latin America and Western Europe regions where he spearheaded business development, deal structuring, and general growth of IFC business.As CEO, Mr. Tanoh will spearhead the Group’s progressive operations in 32 African countries.
Ecobank was introduced in Kenya in June of 2008 and currently operates 24 branches with plans to open six more by the end of the year. The bank is targeting a customer base of over 200,000 by the end of the year. The bank also plans to roll out agency banking services in a bid to increase its customer reach and increase deposits.