Leadership

We are led by exceptional professionals and visionaries with invaluable industry knowledge and local market insights, combined with proven expertise in global financial markets, they are charting the course for Coronation Merchant Bank.

Our Board of Directors

Executive management

Chairman
Babatunde Folawiyo
B.Sc Economics and LLB; LLM

Mr. Folawiyo is the Managing Director of the Yinka Folawiyo Group – an organisation with interests in energy, agriculture, shipping, real estate and engineering – as well as a Director at MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd.

Over the course of his career, he has been actively involved in petroleum exploration activities under the indigenous programme of the Nigerian Petroleum Industry, and was instrumental in pioneering developmental activities in the Benin Embayment. Since 1996, he has served as Vice President of the Nigeria Association of Indigenous Petroleum Explorers and Productions (NAIPEC), an umbrella body for Indigenous Operators in the nation’s upstream sector. During the 2005 recapitalisation/consolidation of the banking industry, he led Marina International Bank Ltd into a successful merger with Access Bank Plc, and served on the board of the Bank until February 2016. He was also a Director at Unic Insurance Plc.

His achievements include an appointment as Honorary Consul of Barbados in Lagos, Nigeria, a position he holds to this day, and the receipt of the African Business Leadership Award in 2010. He is a member of the Bar Association of England and Wales, and the Nigerian Bar Association.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Evelyn Oputu
B.Sc Business Administration

Ms. Oputu currently sits on the boards of several companies in a diverse range of sectors, including insurance, mining, medical services, manufacturing and oil and gas.

In 1982, she was headhunted to found the Treasury & Financial Services Division at International Merchant Bank, before she progressed to Senior Manager & Deputy Head of the Corporate Finance Division. Subsequently, she was made Chairman and Chief Executive at KES Products Ltd. She also served as Executive Director at First Bank Nigeria Plc, where she was responsible for the Corporate Development Division and the Corporate Finance & International Division. From 2005 to 2014, she was the MD/CEO of Bank of Industry Ltd. (BOI).

Her achievements include an appointment as a member of the National Directorate of Employment in 1987 and appointment as Chairman of the Committee of the Financial Management of Aviation Parastatals in 2000.

Board member
Adamu Mahmoud Atta
BA. International Relations/International Economics; MA. Development Economics; Masters Political Science

Mr. Atta founded and heads the consultancy, Matad Group Nigeria Limited (“Matad”), and through this, he has gained over twenty years’ experience consulting for various businesses in areas such as socio-economic and feasibility studies, analysis and diagnostic reviews. Under his leadership, Matad continues to evolve, having provided consulting services funded by the World Bank, African Development Bank, Department for International Developments, and the United Nations Development Programme, amongst others.
 
Mr. Atta has experience serving on the boards of various companies, including WAPIC Insurance Plc, Access Investment & Securities Limited, Inter Foods Limited, Workwell Engineering & Tractor Nigeria Limited and Supertex, amongst others. He has also been appointed onto various committees by the Federal Government of Nigeria to help coordinate systems for monitoring Oil & Gas supplies to industries and to instil transparency in the sector.

Mr. Atta has been appointed to various committees in the oil, gas and textile industries by the Federal Government, and to the Nigerian Business Forum by the President. He also played a role in the work of the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (N-EITI) and was involved in the creation of the accounting model which tracks development in oil and gas industries.

NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Olubunmi Fayokun
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B)

Admitted to the Nigerian Bar – 1985, Ms. Fayokun is a Senior Partner in the law firm of Aluko & Oyebode and heads the firm’s Capital Markets’ and M&A practice groups. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Fayokun was the Legal Adviser/Company Secretary of Denham Management Limited.

Ms. Fayokun’s career spans over three decades during which she has represented a highly diversified clientele of top-tier indigenous, international and multinational companies in various sectors including: banking, oil and gas, FMCG, power, aviation and insurance.

Ms. Fayokun is recognised in Who’s Who Legal as one of the world’s leading lawyers in M&A, Capital Markets and Energy & Natural Resources and has consistently been ranked a Leading Lawyer in IFLR1000 – The Guide to the World’s leading Financial Law Firms. Ms. Fayokun has served on various committees established by the Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of promoting the development of the Nigerian capital market, including the CMC Rules and Compliance Sub-committee and the CMC Market Infrastructure Sub-committee.

Ms. Fayokun is a Council Member of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Business Law, was a Director of the Association of Issuing Houses of Nigeria, a former Treasurer of the Capital Markets Solicitors’ Association and played a key role in the establishment of the Nigerian Association of Securities Dealers (NASD) OTC market. Ms. Fayokun was appointed to the board of Coronation Merchant Bank on 30 May, 2017 and her appointment was approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria on 1 November, 2017.

Non-Executive Director
Idaere Gogo Ogan
B.Sc. (Hons) Economics, MBA International Finance

Mr Ogan has more than 28 years’ experience across key areas of Banking, Insurance and Oil and Gas. He is the Group Chairman of Calvary Group which includes BECCA Petroleum and Gas Limited, Cordero Engineering Services Limited and Calvary Travels and Logistics Limited, a position he has held for twenty (20) years. In this role, he has gained expansive experience in Oil and Gas management, Engineering services, and Logistics.

Prior to his appointment as Chairman of the Calvary Group, he was the Head, Corporate Bank Pharmaceutical Group at Guaranty Trust Bank PLC.

Mr. Ogan sits on the Board of several companies as Director and Chairman. Currently, he is the Chairman, Board of Directors of United Securities Limited (USL); Director in Marina Securities Limited and Eastern Bulkcem Company Limited (Eagle Cement) and a ranking member of Access Bank Plc Shareholders’ Audit Committee,

He is a member, Institute of Directors of Nigeria which is an affiliate of Institute of Directors United Kingdom.

Mr. Ogan was appointed to the board of Coronation Merchant Bank on 21 July, 2017 and his appointment was approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria on 1 November 201John Does

Board member
Larry Ettah
B.Sc Industrial Chemistry; MBA, GSB

Mr. Ettah is the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UAC of Nigeria Plc. (UACN) and is Chairman of the following publicly quoted companies: UAC Property Development Company Plc (UPDC), Chemical & Allied Products Plc (CAP), Portland Paints & Products Nigeria Plc and Livestock Feeds Plc.

He began his career as a Management Trainee at UACN in 1988 and was promoted to the board of UACN in 2004. Prior to this promotion, he held several senior management positions within the company, including Executive Director, and Human Resources and Divisional Managing Director of the Mr Bigg’s Division of UAC.

Some of his numerous achievements include an appointment as the first Vice President of the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), as well as Vice President (Multinationals) of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). In addition, he is a Council Member of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI).

Non-Executive Director
Kayode Akindele
BA Hons Degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics

Kayode graduated with a BA Hons Degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from the University of Oxford in 2001. He worked first at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London as an Audit & Assurance Associate in the Banking & Capital Markets division and then at Lloyds Banking Group as a Manager/Associate Director in the Risk Solutions Team within the Financial Markets Division.

In 2006, he assumed the role of Vice President/Assistant General Manager in UBA Global Markets (now United Capital) in Lagos initially to head the Sales & Structuring Team then heading the Capital Markets, M&A and Structuring teams. As a Co-Founder and Partner in TIA Capital, a pan-African focused investment firm, a credit fund was successfully raised and invested under the UK FCA regulated 46 Parallels brand which was a joint venture with a UK based family office. Since 2015 TIA Capital has invested over $500m in the Sub-Saharan African region as a sub-advisor to a large global multi-strategy fund as well as advising other clients on their investments in the region. From May to June 2015, he served as a Technical Assistant/Subject Matter Expert in Economy & Finance Sub- Committee of President Muhammadu Buhari’s for the Presidential Transition Committee.

Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer
Banjo Adegbohungbe
BSc. Mechanical Engineering, MBA

Banjo has over 25 years banking experience in operations, technology and product management spanning international trade, foreign and local payments, foreign exchange, fixed income, money markets and loans.​

He spent 14 years in Citibank Nigeria (formerly Nigeria International Bank Ltd) in various functions including technology, business process improvement and trade operations, rising to become the Head, Trade Operations in 2005 prior to joining Access Bank in March 2007. He was at various times group head, Global Trade, group head, Global Payments and group head, Corporate Operations before joining Coronation Merchant Bank in July 2018.​

As MD/CEO at Coronation Merchant Bank, he is responsible for the strategic direction for the back office, technology and electronic/digital channels for the group

Executive Director/Executive Compliance Officer
Funke Feyisetan-Ladimeji
BSc. Economics; MSc. Globalisation

Funke has over 30 years’ experience in banking and finance. She has managed a variety of Banking businesses across Markets and Corporate Finance Businesses, across multiple jurisdictions in EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), North America and Asia, and across multiple functional areas, including Financial Control, Complex Product Accounting, Technology, Business Operations and Human Capital.

She spent 14 years in JP Morgan Chase where she was the Executive Director/COO with global responsibilities in managing businesses and leading the development of an African investment bank. Prior to joining Coronation Merchant Bank, she was the Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer at FBNQuest Merchant Bank Group where she oversaw a period of radical revolution that grew the balance sheet and massively increased revenues with two key acquisitions and evolution in technology and business culture.

Funke is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of England & Wales and holds a Master’s degree in Globalisation and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Queen Mary and Brunel Universities respectively.

As Executive Director/Executive Compliance Officer at Coronation Merchant Bank, she is responsible for the management of Compliance, Information Technology, Centralised Operations, Customer Service, Administration and Global Trade.

Chief Risk Officer
Magnus Nnoka
BSc. Economics, MBA, MSc. Risk Management

Magnus Nnoka is the Chief Risk Officer (CRO)of Coronation Merchant Bank Limited. In his role as the CRO, he oversees the enterprise risk management and control responsibilities in the Bank. Prior to joining Coronation Merchant Bank 2017, he was a member of the Transformation Team at Union Bank Plc in the capacity of Deputy General Manager/Head Business Support and Recovery Group. He was also the Country Head, Group Special Asset Management at Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited. Between 2001 and 2011, Magnus held various senior management positions at Diamond Bank Plc and played pivotal roles in risk management He has also been involved in different risk management initiatives and process re-engineering projects at the various banks.

In over 24 years in the banking sector, Magnus has garnered experience that cuts across banks and core areas of Treasury, Branch Management/operations and enterprise risk management. Magnus holds a first degree in Economics, a Masters Degree in Risk Management and an MBA in Marketing.

He has attended various executive strategy and leadership education/training programs at prominent institutions including the Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University, Wharton Business School, University of Pennsylvania and the University of Wisconsin, both in the U.S.A. Magnus is a Certified Risk Manager/Trainer and belongs to some professional bodies. He is currently the National President, Risk Management Association of Nigeria.

GH LEGAL SERVICES & ADMINISTRATION
Stanley Ubani
LLB; BL; MBA

Mr. Stanley Ubani graduated with a Second-Class Upper in Law from Abia State University in 1996 and a Second-Class Upper from the Nigeria Law School in 1997. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1998. He is a Chartered Secretary and Administrator, a holder of a postgraduate Diploma in International Dispute Resolution and an LL.M Degree in International Commercial Law from the University of London. He is also an Alumni of Lagos Business School and a member of the Executive Committee of the Association of Banks Company Secretary and Legal Adviser (ABLACS).

 

Stanley has over 20 years of banking industry experience with core competencies in Legal Advisory, Dispute Management, Credit Documentation and Control, Insolvency Practice, Company Secretarial Services and Corporate Governance. He was the Head, Legal Services Division in Keystone Bank Limited for about seven years before his appointment as the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser of Coronation Merchant Bank Limited.

Chief Compliance Officer (CCO)
Ibrahim Bello
B.Sc. Accounting, FCA, MBA

As Head of Compliance at Coronation Merchant Bank, Mr. Bello’s responsibilities include the provision of operational and advisory support in the development and implementation of all compliance strategies and concerns. He is also charged with establishing strong compliance standards in accordance with industry and global best practices, and acting as a liaison between the Bank and all regulatory bodies.

He has gained over a decade’s experience in financial control, fund management, relationship management, compliance and risk management. He commenced his career at Saro Agro Sciences Limited in 2004 as an Accountant, and then progressed to the role of Financial Controller at Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Ltd., gaining a mass of expertise in risk and compliance, stockbroking, and fund management, in a variety of positions. In 2009, he became the Head of the Relationship Management Desk for Foreign Stockbroking clients. Before he joined Coronation Merchant Bank, he served as a Compliance Manager at Citibank Nigeria.

He has an MBA from Warwick Business School and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), as well as an Associate Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (ACAMS).

GH, CORPORATE BANKING
Ademola Adekoya
B.Sc. Estate Management

Mr. Adekoya is an experienced banker whose core banking experience has covered financial and business advisory, wealth management, corporate finance, and credit and marketing. As the Group Head of Corporate Banking at Coronation Merchant Bank, he is responsible for the development of marketing and sales strategies, as well as products and services for the Division; originating and managing the bank’s relationships within the corporate market.

Mr. Adekoya began his banking career in August 2002 at Guaranty Trust Bank Plc (GTB) as an Executive Trainee in the Energy Unit of the Credit and Marketing Group. Prior to joining GTB, he worked as Head of Property Management at Leke Sanni & Associates. In May 2003, Mr. Adekoya joined Access Bank Plc as Senior Banking Officer, Global Financial Markets. He joined Coronation Merchant Bank in August 2015 as Assistant General Manager of Corporate Banking.

His achievements include participating in quasi-equity for Access Bank via long term convertible debenture, which is the first of such investment in a Nigerian Bank by a development finance institution. He also participated in promoting Gender Empowerment at Access Bank, by raising funds from the International Finance Corporation.

Chief Financial Officer
Chukwukadibia Okoye
Postgraduate Diploma, Business Administration and MBA (Finance); ACA, ACCA, MNIM

Mr. Okoye is a treasury and credit accounting expert, with expertise in financial and management reporting, risk assessments and controls, equity valuations and corporate finance, and financial assurance and analysis. As the Group Head of Financial Control at Coronation Merchant Bank, his responsibilities include directing the fiscal functions of the Bank; overseeing the preparation of its budget and implementation; anticipating and controlling financial risks; and ensuring the development and implementation of accounting policies and procedures, in accordance with leading practices and standards.

Mr Okoye’s accounting experience began at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Nigeria, where he trained in Assurance and Advisory Services. He was involved in several IFRS Conversion Engagements for the firm’s clients. After his time in consulting, he joined United Bank for Africa as Team Lead of Financial Control and Head of Financial and Technical Analysis, where he was responsible for IFRS Compliance and Financial Reporting. In November 2015, he joined Coronation Merchant Bank as Head of Financial Control.

He is a member of Nigeria Institute of Management. He is a member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants UK and Associate member of Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria.

Group Head, Securities Dealing
Iyobosa Sorae
B.Sc Business Administration; MBA

Mrs. Sorae is a Fixed Income expert with experience in Fixed Income Trading, Portfolio Management, and Operational Management. As the Group Head of Securities Dealing at Coronation Merchant Bank since August 2015, Mrs. Sorae’s responsibilities include ensuring and managing the solvency of the bank, market and liquidity risks, profitable investments, and facilitating the development and implementation of activities to contribute to the business’s market share, annual revenue and growth targets.

She commenced her career after participating in the traineeship programme at the Access Bank School of Banking Excellence in May 2006. Thereafter, Mrs. Sorae became Head, Assistant Branch Operations, and in April 2007, she was appointed to lead the Fixed Income Department of Access Bank Plc. From there, she was transferred to the Corporate Finance Unit of the Bank in January 2011. Mrs. Sorae joined Dunn Loren Merrifield in March 2011 as Head of Fixed Income Sales and Trading, where she was responsible for setting up the fixed income unit, as it was a start-up investment banking firm at the time.

She has, at various times, participated in the Wharton Executive Education program undertaking courses on Investment Strategies and Portfolio Management. One of her notable achievements includes generating net income in excess of USD 2.0 million within the first year of Dunn Loren Merrifield operations, despite operating with limited balance sheet support and relatively low name recognition. Mrs. Sorae is also ACI certified (Association Cambiste Internationale).

Group head investment banking
Taiwo Olatunji
B.Eng, M. Fin

Taiwo Olatunji is an investment banking professional with over 16 years of experience in business and financial advisory services. He has been instrumental to several successful financial transactions including the first and second triple tranche Eurobond offerings of US$2.87 Billion and US$4.00 Billion by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the bond issuance of N187.60 billion by Dangote Industries Limited and the N127.00 billion Series 1 & 2 commercial paper issuance by MTN Nigeria Communications Plc.

He also advised Access Holdings Plc on the acquisition of a majority equity stake in First Guarantee Pension Limited, the acquisition of an indirect equity stake in Sigma Pensions Limited, and the subsequent formation of Access Pensions Limited through the merger of both entities. He began his Investment Banking career with FSDH Merchant Bank Limited in 2015 as Head of Capital Markets and moved to FSDH Capital Limited as Head of Investment Banking in 2019. Prior to his time at FSDH, Taiwo was a consultant and Manager in the Financial Services Unit at Accenture Nigeria.

Taiwo holds a master’s in finance from the London Business School and a B.Eng. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Ilorin. He is also a CFA Charter holder and has passed the certified PPP Professional (CP3P) preparation exam.

Acting Chief Audit Executive
Adeola Awe
BSc, Management & Accounting MBA, Financial Management

Adeola is the Chief Audit Executive with over 20 years of banking experience which cuts across Finance, Trade Services, Domestic Operations, Clearing, Internal Control, and Internal Audit. She provides independent assurance to the Board of Directors (through the Board Audit Committee) and Senior Management on the quality and effectiveness of the Bank’s internal control, risk management, governance systems, and processes.

In September 2006, Adeola joined Guaranty Trust Bank (now GTCO) as a Banking Officer, where she worked for 12 years and rose to the level of Group Head, Internal Audit. She joined Coronation Merchant Bank as the Head of the Internal Control Department in 2018.

She obtained a bachelor’s degree in Management and Accounting and an MBA in Financial Management. Adeola is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, a Chartered Risk Manager and a member of the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Group Head, Private Banking
Chidinma Akanle
BSc. Mass Communication

Chidinma Akanle is the Group Head, Coronation Private Banking. She is responsible for the conceptualization and implementation of the Bank’s client value proposition and priorities for Ultra High Net-Worth and High Net worth clients. In this role, she works closely with relevant stakeholders and partners to deliver unique value to clients through the delivery of a mix of Wealth Management, Investment Advisory and Lifestyle solutions to drive growth and profitability.

She is a seasoned Banker with over 16 years of experience in Private banking, Retail Banking and Business Development for strategic business units.

She started her debut into the banking sector in 2006 at Ecobank, Retail banking division and later moved to the Private banking group where she began her private banking journey, sharpening her skills in UHNI and HNI Relationship Management, Product Development and Management. Chidinma has had various roles across the banking industry working in various financial institutions: Diamond Bank PLC, United Bank of Africa PLC, Heritage Bank and Stanbic IBTC.

Prior to joining Coronation Merchant Bank, Chidinma held various roles at Stanbic IBTC PLC Nigeria notably Head, Executive Banking, Nigeria and Segment Head of Silver Banking, Nigeria. Chidinma holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She has participated in several local and international conferences and training courses.

Chief Economist and Head, Economic Research/ Intelligence
Chinwe Egwim
BA Economics Kwame Nkrumah University, Kumasi Ghana MA Financial Economics Kingston University London

Chinwe Egwim is an Executive-level Economist with experience in macro, financial, development, gender and behavioral economics. She is currently the Chief Economist and Head, Economic Research/ Intelligence at Coronation Merchant Bank. Prior to joining Coronation Merchant Bank, she worked at FBNQuest Merchant Bank, FBN Capital, Fitch Ratings Milan and the Central Bank of Nigeria. She holds a master’s degree in Financial Economics from Kingston University London, a BSc in Economics from Kwame Nkrumah University Kumasi Ghana and she is an alumna of the European School of Economics.

Her diverse corporate experience includes short and long-term forecasting, strategic planning, and market outlooks. Chinwe provides valuable perspectives for corporate boards and contributes to enhancing structures that produce optimal business results. She periodically develops evidence-based research for the benefit of decision-making, as well as to tackle operational and policy issues. Her contributions have also supported high-level projects driven by the World Bank, IMF, NESG and leading female empowerment NGOs. Chinwe has been appointed as a National Consultant by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and UNCTAD to lead the services trade project which focused on global and regional value chain analysis for the financial services sector.

She is frequently pulled in to give expert advice on economic trends across print and visual media. Chinwe has also been appointed as an Executive Council Member of Women in Management, Business and Public Service (WIMBIZ), she is currently the Vice-Chair of Advocacy at WIMBIZ and has published papers used for gender equality advocacy. Chinwe has received several reputable recognitions and awards for her work as an Economist and an Advocate for Women Empowerment.

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Board member
Babatunde Dabiri
B.Sc Economics; MBA

Mr. Dabiri is a retired Banking CEO who is now a member of numerous boards – he is a Director at Academy Press Plc and Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc, and Chairman at Lawson Thomas and Colleagues Ltd. He sits on the board of the University of Lagos Holding Company Ltd and on the Advancement Board of the University of Ibadan. He is also a Board Member of LEAP Africa, an organisation committed to developing dynamic, innovative and principled youth leaders.
 
Mr. Dabiri’s career spanned over three decades, during which he worked at various financial institutions such as Prime Merchant Bank, Continental Merchant Bank, and Fountain Trust Merchant Bank Ltd. He served in various leadership positions over the course of his career, and eventually became the first GMD/CEO of Sterling Bank from January 2006 to February 2008, until he retired from banking. Since retirement, he has been involved in several businesses in various economic sectors.
 
Some of his achievements include being the founding Chairman of Lagos State Pensions Commission (LASPEC), a position he held for 6 years. Between 2003 and 2005, he was the Alumni President of the Lagos Business School, and from 2004 to 2007, National President of the Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA). He served on the Governing Council of the Lagos State University for 8 years and has been on the Corona Schools Trust Council for 20 years. 

Head, COronation Securities
Uwana Ekpat