Published: October 31, 2013
Chairman of pan-African lender steps down.
Kolapo Lawson has resigned as chairman of Ecobank, a pan-African bank.
In a statement announcing the news, Lawson said his decision follows recent allegations of improper corporate governance at the bank, a matter now being investigated by independent parties.
“I am very conscious of the uncertainty that current media speculation has cast over the institution,” he added. “I therefore wish to take the necessary steps to bring this to an end. As the head of such a respected global institution, I must act when there is even the slightest perception that the interests of that institution might be at risk. I therefore step aside as Chairman of Ecobank Transnational.”
Lawson will leave the bank on December 31 and hand over to André Siaka as interim chairman.
Separately, the bank has announced results for the first nine months of 2013 that show a 56% year-on-year rise in pre-tax profit to US$299mn.