Standard Chartered has announced the appointment of Dalu Ajene as the new Chief Executive Officer for its Africa operations, a role that also carries dual responsibilities as the Head of Coverage for Africa. In this expanded mandate, Ajene will oversee the bank’s strategic direction across the continent, leading its corporate, investment banking, wealth, and retail franchises while strengthening client relationships across key markets.
Prior to this promotion, Ajene served as CEO of Standard Chartered Nigeria, a position he assumed in April 2024. During his tenure, he delivered strong year‑on‑year financial results and is widely credited with steering the franchise through a period of regulatory and macroeconomic change. Notably, he led Standard Chartered Nigeria to successfully meet the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recapitalization requirement of ₦200 billion (approximately $140.8 million) for national commercial banks, well ahead of the March 2026 deadline. This milestone positioned the institution among the first international banks in Nigeria to comply with the new capital rules.
Before joining Standard Chartered, Ajene was the CEO of Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) Nigeria, where he built a track record in corporate banking, investment banking, and risk management across West Africa.
Commenting on his appointment, Dalu Ajene said:
Having had the privilege of leading Standard Chartered Nigeria over the past two years, I am deeply honored to now take on broader responsibilities across Africa. I look forward to working closely with our experienced teams across the continent to accelerate growth across our corporate and investment banking, and wealth and retail businesses, mobilize catalytic capital, and create sustainable value for our clients, stakeholders, and the communities we serve.
Ajene is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics, and he holds an MBA from Harvard Business School. His academic and professional background, combined with his leadership experience across Africa’s financial sector, positions him as a key figure in Standard Chartered’s ambition to deepen its footprint across the region.
