The African Development Bank Group has appointed Mrs. Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade as Senior Vice President. Her appointment took effect on October 4, 2024.
Mrs. Akin-Olugbade, a seasoned leader from Cameroon, previously served as the Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration, and Business Delivery. She brings over 30 years of experience in finance, capital markets, and strategic leadership.
Mrs. Akin-Olugbade has played a critical role in driving regional economic integration. She has led initiatives that mobilized resources and developed innovative financial solutions for both sovereign and non-sovereign clients.
“I am deeply honored by the trust and confidence that President Adesina has placed in me,” she said upon her appointment. “I look forward to working closely with the President, Senior Leadership Team, our Boards of Directors, and staff to enhance the Bank’s impact and effectiveness in delivering programs that benefit our regional member countries.”
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Akin-Olugbade Proven Leadership in West Africa
Mrs. Akin-Olugbade has vast experience in high-stakes environments. She led a $9 billion portfolio for West Africa, where she engaged with governments, the private sector, and non-state actors.
Her efforts resulted in significant development impacts, particularly in challenging regions like the Sahel. She also oversaw the financing of the Accra Pokuase Interchange in Ghana, West Africa’s first four-tier interchange, which has transformed the region’s infrastructure.
Her career at the Bank started in 1991 in the Treasury Department. In 2008, she became Manager of the Financial Technical Services Division, developing new financial products.
Her work continued with a post as Country Manager for Ghana, where she managed a $1 billion portfolio. In 2018, she became the Director General for West Africa.
A New Chapter for the Bank
President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, expressed his confidence in Mrs. Akin-Olugbade’s leadership, saying:
“I am pleased to appoint Mrs. Marie Laure Akin-Olugbade as Senior Vice President. Marie Laure is a highly experienced, committed, and effective manager of teams.
She brings extensive knowledge of the African Development Bank, its rules, processes, and systems, and well-proven capacity to deliver on bank-wide operations, while ensuring team cohesion. I am confident that Marie Laure will inject refreshing leadership and dynamism to the senior leadership team and the Bank.”
Mrs. Akin-Olugbade holds a master’s degree in applied economics from Université Paris-Dauphine and a Postgraduate Degree in Management from Université Panthéon-Sorbonne, France.