Standard Chartered has appointed Dalu Ajene as the Chief Executive Officer of its Africa operations, while also assigning him the role of Head of Coverage for Africa, the bank announced on Thursday.
Ajene previously served as CEO of Standard Chartered Nigeria, a position he assumed in April 2024. During his tenure, the bank posted strong year-on-year financial performance and successfully met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N200 billion recapitalisation requirement for national commercial banks ahead of the March 2026 deadline.
With over 25 years of experience in the financial services sector, Ajene brings a wealth of international expertise across Africa, the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East. His career spans corporate and investment banking, wealth management, and retail banking, reflecting a rare blend of global insight and local market knowledge.
Prior to joining Standard Chartered, Ajene held senior positions at Credit Suisse, BNP Paribas, Bank of America, and Bear Stearns. He also played a pivotal role in launching Rand Merchant Bank in Nigeria, where he spent more than a decade in various local and group leadership roles, ultimately serving as its CEO. His track record is marked by cross-border growth, innovation, and strategic leadership.
In announcing the appointment, Standard Chartered said Ajene’s elevation underscores the bank’s commitment to promoting excellence and reinforcing stakeholder confidence in Nigeria and across Africa.
Reflecting on his new role, Ajene said, “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. 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.”
Ajene holds an MBA in Finance and Strategy from Harvard Business School and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College. He is also an active member of the Young Presidents Organisation (YPO), the Metropolitan Club, and several non-profit initiatives.