Nigeria CEO Dalu Ajene Takes the Helm of Standard Chartered Africa

Standard Chartered has appointed Dalu Ajene as its new Chief Executive Officer for Africa, giving him dual responsibilities as regional CEO and Head of Coverage for the continent.

The move comes after Ajene’s high-impact tenure as CEO of Standard Chartered Nigeria, a role he assumed in April 2024.

During his time leading the Nigerian operations, Ajene is credited with driving strong year-on-year financial performance. Notably, he led the bank to meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ₦200 billion recapitalisation requirement for national commercial banks well ahead of the March 2026 deadline. This achievement has positioned him as a reliable leader during a period of regulatory and economic change.

Speaking on his new role, Ajene said the appointment reflects both team effort and the strength of the bank’s franchise across Africa.

He highlighted the importance of Standard Chartered’s role in trade finance, structured solutions, and development finance, emphasising a client-centric approach anchored on trust.

He added that he looks forward to working closely with teams across Africa to accelerate growth in Corporate & Investment Banking and Wealth & Retail businesses, mobilise catalytic capital, and create sustainable value for clients, stakeholders, and communities.

Ajene brings over 25 years of experience in global financial services. Before joining Standard Chartered, he was CEO of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Known as a leader who prioritises people empowerment, Ajene is respected for driving high-performance teams and delivering strong financial outcomes.

The appointment underlines Standard Chartered’s culture of promoting leadership from within while reassuring stakeholders in key African markets, including Nigeria.

Ajene takes over from Kariuki Ngari, who served as CEO for Africa, and assumes responsibilities previously held under Sarmad Lone’s Africa Coverage portfolio.