Standard Chartered has announced the appointment of Dalu Ajene as chief executive officer (CEO) for the bank’s operations in Africa, with dual responsibilities as head of coverage for the continent.
Ajene previously served as CEO of Standard Chartered Nigeria, a role he assumed in April 2024. During his tenure, he steered the bank to strong year-on-year financial performance and successfully met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ₦200 billion recapitalisation requirement for national commercial banks ahead of the March 2026 deadline.
Prior to joining Standard Chartered, Ajene was CEO of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria.
With over 25 years of experience in the global financial services sector, Ajene’s appointment underscores Standard Chartered’s commitment to excellence and stakeholder confidence across Africa’s financial industry.
“Having had the privilege of leading Standard Chartered Nigeria over the past two years, I am deeply honoured to now take on broader responsibilities across Africa. This transition reflects the strength of our franchise, the resilience of our teams, and the impact we have delivered in a period of significant change and development,” said Mr Ajene while commenting on his new role.
“Across the region, Standard Chartered remains a key partner in trade finance, structured solutions, and development finance, leveraging technology to deliver client-centric services anchored on trust.”
“I look forward to working closely with our experienced teams across Africa to accelerate growth across our Corporate & Investment Banking and Wealth & Retail businesses, mobilize catalytic capital, and create sustainable value for our clients, stakeholders, and the communities we serve,” concluded Ajene.
Ajene holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is widely recognised as a leader committed to fostering a culture of high performance, people empowerment, and delivering best-in-class client service alongside robust financial outcomes.
He succeeds Kariuki Ngari, who served as CEO, Africa, and Sarmad Lone, who previously led the Africa coverage portfolio.
