Nigeria: Standard Chartered Bank Appoints Dalu Ajene as New CEO

Standard Chartered Bank, a leading international cross-border bank facilitating connections across dynamic markets worldwide, has named Dalu Ajene as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Ajene succeeds Lamin Manjang, the Vice Chairman Africa and Acting CEO, who is retiring from the bank after 25 years of dedicated service upon reaching the mandatory retirement age.

In its announcement, the bank stated:

“We are delighted to appoint Dalu as the Chief Executive Officer for Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited. With a rich background in banking and finance, Dalu brings a wealth of experience and expertise to lead our operations in Nigeria. As a prominent international bank, Standard Chartered remains committed to fostering economic growth and supporting our clients in Nigeria.

“Dalu’s leadership will further reinforce our presence in the region, enabling us to continue delivering exceptional service and innovative solutions to our customers. His strong business and commercial acumen, honed through managing diverse portfolios across Africa, the US, and the Middle East, will be invaluable in navigating the complex landscape of diverse markets.”

In his response to the appointment, Dalu expressed:

“I am deeply honoured to join Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria at this pivotal moment of profound change and development in Nigeria. Our bank plays a crucial role as a provider of trade finance, structured solutions, and development finance, leveraging technology to deliver client-centric services that foster trust with our customers and stakeholders.

“Our teams possess extensive experience to navigate our dynamic environment and deliver value to our clients. I am eager to collaborate with them to accelerate our activities across the Corporate & Investment Banking business and Wealth & Retail business, serving our customers and facilitating catalytic financing into the Nigerian economy. Ultimately, executing on this mission will positively uplift the communities we serve.”

Prior to his current appointment, Dalu served as the Nigerian CEO of Rand Merchant Bank, where he steered a robust and resilient business to achieve double-digit Profit Before Tax growth in 2023.