Standard Chartered has appointed Dalu Ajene as chief executive officer for its Africa operations, adding the role of head of coverage for the region, as the lender sharpens its focus on growth across corporate, investment, wealth and retail banking.
Ajene was until recently the chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Nigeria, a role he assumed in April 2024. During his tenure, the bank delivered strong year on year financial performance and met the Central Bank of Nigeria recapitalisation requirement of ₦200 billion for national commercial banks ahead of the March 2026 deadline.
Before joining Standard Chartered, Ajene served as chief executive officer of Rand Merchant Bank Nigeria. He brings more than 25 years of experience in global financial services, spanning leadership roles across banking, trade finance and structured solutions.
The appointment underscores Standard Chartered’s emphasis on leadership continuity and regional integration as it seeks to deepen client coverage across Africa’s largest markets.
Speaking on his appointment, 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. I look forward to working closely with our experienced teams across Africa to accelerate growth across our Corporate & Investment Banking and Wealth & Retail businesses, mobilise catalytic capital, and create sustainable value for our clients, stakeholders, and the communities we serve.”
Ajene holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is widely regarded as a leader focused on building high performance cultures centred on people empowerment, with an emphasis on delivering strong client outcomes and sustainable financial returns.
He succeeds Kariuki Ngari, who served as chief executive officer for Africa, and assumes responsibilities previously held within Sarmad Lone’s Africa coverage portfolio.
