Moody's & GCR Ratings Nigeria Risk Summit
How will Nigeria’s credit profile evolve following reforms efforts
In Person Event
The Wheatbaker Hotel, Lagos
JOINTLY HOSTED WITH
Agenda
08.30
- 09.00
WAT
Registration and Refreshments
09.15
- 10.00
WAT
10.45
- 11.15
WAT
Refreshment Break
11.15
- 12.00
WAT
12.00
- 12.45
WAT
12.45
- 12.55
WAT
Additional Q&A
13.00
- 14.00
WAT
Lunch and networking
Confirm cancellation
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Abubakar Suleiman is an economist and a banker with over 20 years experience in consulting and financial services. As the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Plc, his top priority is to optimize the impact of financial intermediation in critical sectors that can catalyze growth and create a future of shared prosperity for all Nigerians. These sectors are Health, Education Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation and are at the H.E.A.R.T of Sterling.
Before his current role, he served as an Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer of the bank and was the executive sponsor of the Bank’s non-interest banking business (Sterling Alternative Finance). Abubakar holds a bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Economics from the University of Abuja and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Major Programme Management from Said Business School, University of Oxford.
His previous work experience includes tax advisory at Arthur Andersen and financial markets with Citibank Nigeria. He is a firm believer in the role of efficient markets, emerging technologies, and small businesses in unlocking productivity, improving national competitiveness, and driving inclusive economic growth. He currently serves on the Board of Noor Takaful, and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
Yetunde is responsible for corporate finance and treasury management for Axxela. In her role, she is responsible for ensuring optimal capital structure for projects, project viability assessment, cashflow planning, excess cash investments, and hedging for foreign exchange exposures.
She has over 16 years’ experience span across consulting, investment banking, corporate banking, and business development in developed and emerging markets in a transaction-oriented position. Prior to joining the organization in 2020, she was with the West Market Area Deals team at PricewaterhouseCoopers where she worked on equity and debt capital raise mandates, corporate restructuring, financial modelling, and valuation analysis for publicly-traded and privately-held companies.
Some of her key deals include: Adviser on the acquisition finance capital raise for OML 42 by Neconde Energy Limited during the shell divestment program, adviser to the Federal Government of Nigeria on the Implementation of the settlement agreement for the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, Adviser on the acquisition of Nokia Nigeria by Microsoft Mobile oy, an SPV created by Microsoft Corporation, Adviser of the acquisition of majority stake in Forte Oil by Prudent Energy, Adviser on Lease, Redevelop, Operate and Transfer of two (2) hotels owned by the Odu’a Investment Company of Nigeria Limited and Adviser on the Corporate restructuring for Afprint Nigeria PLC.
Yetunde has a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a Master’s degree in Management (Finance) from the University of Wales, Swansea. In addition, she has completed the fundamental stage of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK. She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School Online.
Dr. Ayo Adepoju was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer of Ecobank in August 2019, bringing a wealth of experience in financial leadership, strategic planning, treasury management, investor relations and business performance management.
Prior to his current role, he served as Group Head of Business Performance and Analytics, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the Group’s financial strategy and performance management. He was also Group Financial Controller, overseeing financial reporting and regulatory compliance. Before joining Ecobank, Ayo built a distinguished career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London and Lagos as an Assurance Manager in the financial services practice.
Ayo holds a First-Class Honours degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, where he was recognized as the best graduating student in his faculty. He also holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, UK, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, Virginia, USA. Additionally, he is an Alumnus of Harvard Business School.
A distinguished finance professional, Ayo is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), where he earned national overall best prize awards. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK, and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). He has further honed his expertise through executive education programs at London Business School, Wharton Business School, and Harvard Business School.
Adekemi Adebambo is Group Head of Fundamentals at GCR Ratings, Nigeria and has spent over a decade with the company conducting rating analysis on a broad range of entities in diverse sectors of the economy. In her current role, she oversees the analytical team encompassing Financial Institutions and Corporates & Local and Regional Government ratings. Prior to GCR, Adekemi worked at Access Bank Plc (in the Internal Audit Group) and KPMG’s audit and advisory division respectively.
Adekemi is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an Associate of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, United Kingdom. Adekemi has a master’s degree in international Banking and Finance from Lingnan University, Hong Kong, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
Lucie oversees Sovereign Ratings in Africa and is the lead analyst for several sovereigns and supranational issuers in the region. Prior to that, she has covered a range of European sovereign credits, spanning both advanced and emerging markets, as well as subsovereign credits. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2007, Lucie spent two years at the French Treasury in the division responsible for projections and analyses of France’s government finances. Lucie holds a postgraduate degree in Probability and Statistics and a Master’s degree in Economics.
Mik Kabeya is a Vice President - Senior Credit Officer in the Financial Institutions Group, based in London. Mik covers financial institutions across the African continent. Prior to relocating to London, Mik was based in Dubai where he covered financial institutions based in the Middle East. Before joining Moody’s, Mik worked at Fullerton Financial Holdings and at BNP Paribas.
Isabella Burke is a Vice President Relationship Manager , Country Manager - South Africa and is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Isabella’s responsibilities encompass increasing coverage and revenue from new and existing customers in Southern and West Africa. Prior to joining Moody’s Investors Service, Isabella was covering South Africa as Business Development Manager for a London based hedge fund manager. She was tasked with introducing long-only and hedged solutions into the South African market. Isabella has a great depth and breadth of knowledge of capital markets ,having previously worked at Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse and Investec. Isabella studied at King’s College, London and is fluent in Italian and has basic French.
Akintunde is the CEO of Global Credit Rating Company Ltd, Nigeria (GCR). Prior to GCR, he was a vice president at Moody’s Investors Service, focusing on African credit risk and has also held senior analytical positions at HSBC Investment Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and UniCredit Bank AG.
Akintunde is a CFA charterholder and has a BA in Economics from Leeds University Business School and an MSc in Management from Bayes Business School.
Henry MacNevin, who is based in London, is currently an Associate Managing Director responsible for bank ratings in the Middle-East, South-Eastern Europe and Turkey, and is also responsible for Moody’s global Islamic Finance initiatives. Mr MacNevin joined Moody’s London-based banking team in October 1996, initially as lead analyst for bank in Italy, the United Kingdom, the Nordic region, Belgium, Luxembourg and Hungary, and has also worked as a backup analyst for other banking systems, principally in Europe. He was also previously responsible Associate Managing Director for Moody’s bank ratings in Italy and the CEE region and was the Country Manager for Moody’s in Italy for several years.
Mr. MacNevin’s previous banking experience includes seven years with the Barclaysgroup, where he held positions in strategic planning, corporate banking, and credit risk management.Mr. MacNevin earned a B.A. (Hons) in Business Studies from PortsmouthPolytechnic in the United Kingdom
Iker is an Analyst in the Moody’s EMEA Corporate Finance Group based in Dubai. He covers a diversified industry portfolio, with exposure in Turkey, Africa, and the Middle East.
He joined Moody’s Dubai office in 2022, and previously worked as an associate analyst in the Moody’s London office covering the leveraged finance industry with exposure to Business and Consumer Services, Healthcare, Airlines and Aerospace & Defense. Before that, he spent 2 years working in the consulting industry in Spain.
Iker holds a Masters Degree in Investment Management from Henley Business School. He also holds a BSc in Business Management from the University of Deusto and is a CFA charterholder since 2018.
Samuel is a seasoned credit analysis expert with over eight years of experience navigating the complexities of multiple economic sectors across Africa. His expertise spans Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Francophone Africa, where he has developed a deep understanding of the region's unique credit challenges and opportunities.
With a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Ado Ekiti and an ongoing research background at the Business School Netherlands, Samuel brings a rigorous analytical approach to his work. As Sector Head, Public Finance Ratings at GCR Nigeria, he has played a key role in shaping the country's credit rating landscape. His expertise and insights have been invaluable to his clients and colleagues alike.
Yinka Adeoti leads the Financial Institutions sector at GCR Ratings Nigeria, leveraging over eight years of experience in credit risk assessment. With expertise spanning banks, non-bank financial institutions, and insurance companies, he has developed strong analytical capabilities, overseeing numerous credit assessments across diverse African economic sectors. A seasoned credit analyst, Yinka is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Ilorin.
Timchang Gwatau currently serves as the Sector Head for Non-Bank Financial Institutions at GCR Nigeria. Prior to joining GCR, he was the Head of Research at Meristem Securities Limited, where he oversaw macroeconomic, equity, and fixed income research for the organisation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Jos, Nigeria.
Abubakar Suleiman is an economist and a banker with over 20 years experience in consulting and financial services. As the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Plc, his top priority is to optimize the impact of financial intermediation in critical sectors that can catalyze growth and create a future of shared prosperity for all Nigerians. These sectors are Health, Education Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation and are at the H.E.A.R.T of Sterling.
Before his current role, he served as an Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer of the bank and was the executive sponsor of the Bank’s non-interest banking business (Sterling Alternative Finance). Abubakar holds a bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Economics from the University of Abuja and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Major Programme Management from Said Business School, University of Oxford.
His previous work experience includes tax advisory at Arthur Andersen and financial markets with Citibank Nigeria. He is a firm believer in the role of efficient markets, emerging technologies, and small businesses in unlocking productivity, improving national competitiveness, and driving inclusive economic growth. He currently serves on the Board of Noor Takaful, and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
Yetunde is responsible for corporate finance and treasury management for Axxela. In her role, she is responsible for ensuring optimal capital structure for projects, project viability assessment, cashflow planning, excess cash investments, and hedging for foreign exchange exposures.
She has over 16 years’ experience span across consulting, investment banking, corporate banking, and business development in developed and emerging markets in a transaction-oriented position. Prior to joining the organization in 2020, she was with the West Market Area Deals team at PricewaterhouseCoopers where she worked on equity and debt capital raise mandates, corporate restructuring, financial modelling, and valuation analysis for publicly-traded and privately-held companies.
Some of her key deals include: Adviser on the acquisition finance capital raise for OML 42 by Neconde Energy Limited during the shell divestment program, adviser to the Federal Government of Nigeria on the Implementation of the settlement agreement for the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, Adviser on the acquisition of Nokia Nigeria by Microsoft Mobile oy, an SPV created by Microsoft Corporation, Adviser of the acquisition of majority stake in Forte Oil by Prudent Energy, Adviser on Lease, Redevelop, Operate and Transfer of two (2) hotels owned by the Odu’a Investment Company of Nigeria Limited and Adviser on the Corporate restructuring for Afprint Nigeria PLC.
Yetunde has a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a Master’s degree in Management (Finance) from the University of Wales, Swansea. In addition, she has completed the fundamental stage of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK. She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School Online.
Dr. Ayo Adepoju was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer of Ecobank in August 2019, bringing a wealth of experience in financial leadership, strategic planning, treasury management, investor relations and business performance management.
Prior to his current role, he served as Group Head of Business Performance and Analytics, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the Group’s financial strategy and performance management. He was also Group Financial Controller, overseeing financial reporting and regulatory compliance. Before joining Ecobank, Ayo built a distinguished career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London and Lagos as an Assurance Manager in the financial services practice.
Ayo holds a First-Class Honours degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, where he was recognized as the best graduating student in his faculty. He also holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, UK, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, Virginia, USA. Additionally, he is an Alumnus of Harvard Business School.
A distinguished finance professional, Ayo is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), where he earned national overall best prize awards. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK, and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). He has further honed his expertise through executive education programs at London Business School, Wharton Business School, and Harvard Business School.
Akintunde is the CEO of Global Credit Rating Company Ltd, Nigeria (GCR). Prior to GCR, he was a vice president at Moody’s Investors Service, focusing on African credit risk and has also held senior analytical positions at HSBC Investment Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and UniCredit Bank AG.
Akintunde is a CFA charterholder and has a BA in Economics from Leeds University Business School and an MSc in Management from Bayes Business School.
Isabella Burke is a Vice President Relationship Manager , Country Manager - South Africa and is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Isabella’s responsibilities encompass increasing coverage and revenue from new and existing customers in Southern and West Africa. Prior to joining Moody’s Investors Service, Isabella was covering South Africa as Business Development Manager for a London based hedge fund manager. She was tasked with introducing long-only and hedged solutions into the South African market. Isabella has a great depth and breadth of knowledge of capital markets ,having previously worked at Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse and Investec. Isabella studied at King’s College, London and is fluent in Italian and has basic French.
Adekemi Adebambo is Group Head of Fundamentals at GCR Ratings, Nigeria and has spent over a decade with the company conducting rating analysis on a broad range of entities in diverse sectors of the economy. In her current role, she oversees the analytical team encompassing Financial Institutions and Corporates & Local and Regional Government ratings. Prior to GCR, Adekemi worked at Access Bank Plc (in the Internal Audit Group) and KPMG’s audit and advisory division respectively.
Adekemi is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an Associate of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, United Kingdom. Adekemi has a master’s degree in international Banking and Finance from Lingnan University, Hong Kong, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
Lucie oversees Sovereign Ratings in Africa and is the lead analyst for several sovereigns and supranational issuers in the region. Prior to that, she has covered a range of European sovereign credits, spanning both advanced and emerging markets, as well as subsovereign credits. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2007, Lucie spent two years at the French Treasury in the division responsible for projections and analyses of France’s government finances. Lucie holds a postgraduate degree in Probability and Statistics and a Master’s degree in Economics.
Mik Kabeya is a Vice President - Senior Credit Officer in the Financial Institutions Group, based in London. Mik covers financial institutions across the African continent. Prior to relocating to London, Mik was based in Dubai where he covered financial institutions based in the Middle East. Before joining Moody’s, Mik worked at Fullerton Financial Holdings and at BNP Paribas.
Iker is an Analyst in the Moody’s EMEA Corporate Finance Group based in Dubai. He covers a diversified industry portfolio, with exposure in Turkey, Africa, and the Middle East.
He joined Moody’s Dubai office in 2022, and previously worked as an associate analyst in the Moody’s London office covering the leveraged finance industry with exposure to Business and Consumer Services, Healthcare, Airlines and Aerospace & Defense. Before that, he spent 2 years working in the consulting industry in Spain.
Iker holds a Masters Degree in Investment Management from Henley Business School. He also holds a BSc in Business Management from the University of Deusto and is a CFA charterholder since 2018.
Henry MacNevin, who is based in London, is currently an Associate Managing Director responsible for bank ratings in the Middle-East, South-Eastern Europe and Turkey, and is also responsible for Moody’s global Islamic Finance initiatives. Mr MacNevin joined Moody’s London-based banking team in October 1996, initially as lead analyst for bank in Italy, the United Kingdom, the Nordic region, Belgium, Luxembourg and Hungary, and has also worked as a backup analyst for other banking systems, principally in Europe. He was also previously responsible Associate Managing Director for Moody’s bank ratings in Italy and the CEE region and was the Country Manager for Moody’s in Italy for several years.
Mr. MacNevin’s previous banking experience includes seven years with the Barclaysgroup, where he held positions in strategic planning, corporate banking, and credit risk management.Mr. MacNevin earned a B.A. (Hons) in Business Studies from PortsmouthPolytechnic in the United Kingdom
Samuel is a seasoned credit analysis expert with over eight years of experience navigating the complexities of multiple economic sectors across Africa. His expertise spans Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Francophone Africa, where he has developed a deep understanding of the region's unique credit challenges and opportunities.
With a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Ado Ekiti and an ongoing research background at the Business School Netherlands, Samuel brings a rigorous analytical approach to his work. As Sector Head, Public Finance Ratings at GCR Nigeria, he has played a key role in shaping the country's credit rating landscape. His expertise and insights have been invaluable to his clients and colleagues alike.
Timchang Gwatau currently serves as the Sector Head for Non-Bank Financial Institutions at GCR Nigeria. Prior to joining GCR, he was the Head of Research at Meristem Securities Limited, where he oversaw macroeconomic, equity, and fixed income research for the organisation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Jos, Nigeria.
Yinka Adeoti leads the Financial Institutions sector at GCR Ratings Nigeria, leveraging over eight years of experience in credit risk assessment. With expertise spanning banks, non-bank financial institutions, and insurance companies, he has developed strong analytical capabilities, overseeing numerous credit assessments across diverse African economic sectors. A seasoned credit analyst, Yinka is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Ilorin.
Henry MacNevin, who is based in London, is currently an Associate Managing Director responsible for bank ratings in the Middle-East, South-Eastern Europe and Turkey, and is also responsible for Moody’s global Islamic Finance initiatives. Mr MacNevin joined Moody’s London-based banking team in October 1996, initially as lead analyst for bank in Italy, the United Kingdom, the Nordic region, Belgium, Luxembourg and Hungary, and has also worked as a backup analyst for other banking systems, principally in Europe. He was also previously responsible Associate Managing Director for Moody’s bank ratings in Italy and the CEE region and was the Country Manager for Moody’s in Italy for several years.
Mr. MacNevin’s previous banking experience includes seven years with the Barclaysgroup, where he held positions in strategic planning, corporate banking, and credit risk management.Mr. MacNevin earned a B.A. (Hons) in Business Studies from PortsmouthPolytechnic in the United Kingdom
Isabella Burke is a Vice President Relationship Manager , Country Manager - South Africa and is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Isabella’s responsibilities encompass increasing coverage and revenue from new and existing customers in Southern and West Africa. Prior to joining Moody’s Investors Service, Isabella was covering South Africa as Business Development Manager for a London based hedge fund manager. She was tasked with introducing long-only and hedged solutions into the South African market. Isabella has a great depth and breadth of knowledge of capital markets ,having previously worked at Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse and Investec. Isabella studied at King’s College, London and is fluent in Italian and has basic French.
Akintunde is the CEO of Global Credit Rating Company Ltd, Nigeria (GCR). Prior to GCR, he was a vice president at Moody’s Investors Service, focusing on African credit risk and has also held senior analytical positions at HSBC Investment Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and UniCredit Bank AG.
Akintunde is a CFA charterholder and has a BA in Economics from Leeds University Business School and an MSc in Management from Bayes Business School.
Lucie oversees Sovereign Ratings in Africa and is the lead analyst for several sovereigns and supranational issuers in the region. Prior to that, she has covered a range of European sovereign credits, spanning both advanced and emerging markets, as well as subsovereign credits. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2007, Lucie spent two years at the French Treasury in the division responsible for projections and analyses of France’s government finances. Lucie holds a postgraduate degree in Probability and Statistics and a Master’s degree in Economics.
Iker is an Analyst in the Moody’s EMEA Corporate Finance Group based in Dubai. He covers a diversified industry portfolio, with exposure in Turkey, Africa, and the Middle East.
He joined Moody’s Dubai office in 2022, and previously worked as an associate analyst in the Moody’s London office covering the leveraged finance industry with exposure to Business and Consumer Services, Healthcare, Airlines and Aerospace & Defense. Before that, he spent 2 years working in the consulting industry in Spain.
Iker holds a Masters Degree in Investment Management from Henley Business School. He also holds a BSc in Business Management from the University of Deusto and is a CFA charterholder since 2018.
Adekemi Adebambo is Group Head of Fundamentals at GCR Ratings, Nigeria and has spent over a decade with the company conducting rating analysis on a broad range of entities in diverse sectors of the economy. In her current role, she oversees the analytical team encompassing Financial Institutions and Corporates & Local and Regional Government ratings. Prior to GCR, Adekemi worked at Access Bank Plc (in the Internal Audit Group) and KPMG’s audit and advisory division respectively.
Adekemi is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an Associate of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, United Kingdom. Adekemi has a master’s degree in international Banking and Finance from Lingnan University, Hong Kong, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
Mik Kabeya is a Vice President - Senior Credit Officer in the Financial Institutions Group, based in London. Mik covers financial institutions across the African continent. Prior to relocating to London, Mik was based in Dubai where he covered financial institutions based in the Middle East. Before joining Moody’s, Mik worked at Fullerton Financial Holdings and at BNP Paribas.
Abubakar Suleiman is an economist and a banker with over 20 years experience in consulting and financial services. As the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank Plc, his top priority is to optimize the impact of financial intermediation in critical sectors that can catalyze growth and create a future of shared prosperity for all Nigerians. These sectors are Health, Education Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation and are at the H.E.A.R.T of Sterling.
Before his current role, he served as an Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer of the bank and was the executive sponsor of the Bank’s non-interest banking business (Sterling Alternative Finance). Abubakar holds a bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Economics from the University of Abuja and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Major Programme Management from Said Business School, University of Oxford.
His previous work experience includes tax advisory at Arthur Andersen and financial markets with Citibank Nigeria. He is a firm believer in the role of efficient markets, emerging technologies, and small businesses in unlocking productivity, improving national competitiveness, and driving inclusive economic growth. He currently serves on the Board of Noor Takaful, and the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG).
Henry MacNevin, who is based in London, is currently an Associate Managing Director responsible for bank ratings in the Middle-East, South-Eastern Europe and Turkey, and is also responsible for Moody’s global Islamic Finance initiatives. Mr MacNevin joined Moody’s London-based banking team in October 1996, initially as lead analyst for bank in Italy, the United Kingdom, the Nordic region, Belgium, Luxembourg and Hungary, and has also worked as a backup analyst for other banking systems, principally in Europe. He was also previously responsible Associate Managing Director for Moody’s bank ratings in Italy and the CEE region and was the Country Manager for Moody’s in Italy for several years.
Mr. MacNevin’s previous banking experience includes seven years with the Barclaysgroup, where he held positions in strategic planning, corporate banking, and credit risk management.Mr. MacNevin earned a B.A. (Hons) in Business Studies from PortsmouthPolytechnic in the United Kingdom
Dr. Ayo Adepoju was appointed Group Chief Financial Officer of Ecobank in August 2019, bringing a wealth of experience in financial leadership, strategic planning, treasury management, investor relations and business performance management.
Prior to his current role, he served as Group Head of Business Performance and Analytics, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the Group’s financial strategy and performance management. He was also Group Financial Controller, overseeing financial reporting and regulatory compliance. Before joining Ecobank, Ayo built a distinguished career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London and Lagos as an Assurance Manager in the financial services practice.
Ayo holds a First-Class Honours degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, where he was recognized as the best graduating student in his faculty. He also holds an MBA from Warwick Business School, UK, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, Virginia, USA. Additionally, he is an Alumnus of Harvard Business School.
A distinguished finance professional, Ayo is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), where he earned national overall best prize awards. He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK, and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN). He has further honed his expertise through executive education programs at London Business School, Wharton Business School, and Harvard Business School.
Henry MacNevin, who is based in London, is currently an Associate Managing Director responsible for bank ratings in the Middle-East, South-Eastern Europe and Turkey, and is also responsible for Moody’s global Islamic Finance initiatives. Mr MacNevin joined Moody’s London-based banking team in October 1996, initially as lead analyst for bank in Italy, the United Kingdom, the Nordic region, Belgium, Luxembourg and Hungary, and has also worked as a backup analyst for other banking systems, principally in Europe. He was also previously responsible Associate Managing Director for Moody’s bank ratings in Italy and the CEE region and was the Country Manager for Moody’s in Italy for several years.
Mr. MacNevin’s previous banking experience includes seven years with the Barclaysgroup, where he held positions in strategic planning, corporate banking, and credit risk management.Mr. MacNevin earned a B.A. (Hons) in Business Studies from PortsmouthPolytechnic in the United Kingdom
Mik Kabeya is a Vice President - Senior Credit Officer in the Financial Institutions Group, based in London. Mik covers financial institutions across the African continent. Prior to relocating to London, Mik was based in Dubai where he covered financial institutions based in the Middle East. Before joining Moody’s, Mik worked at Fullerton Financial Holdings and at BNP Paribas.
Yinka Adeoti leads the Financial Institutions sector at GCR Ratings Nigeria, leveraging over eight years of experience in credit risk assessment. With expertise spanning banks, non-bank financial institutions, and insurance companies, he has developed strong analytical capabilities, overseeing numerous credit assessments across diverse African economic sectors. A seasoned credit analyst, Yinka is an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Ilorin.
Timchang Gwatau currently serves as the Sector Head for Non-Bank Financial Institutions at GCR Nigeria. Prior to joining GCR, he was the Head of Research at Meristem Securities Limited, where he oversaw macroeconomic, equity, and fixed income research for the organisation. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Jos, Nigeria.
Yetunde is responsible for corporate finance and treasury management for Axxela. In her role, she is responsible for ensuring optimal capital structure for projects, project viability assessment, cashflow planning, excess cash investments, and hedging for foreign exchange exposures.
She has over 16 years’ experience span across consulting, investment banking, corporate banking, and business development in developed and emerging markets in a transaction-oriented position. Prior to joining the organization in 2020, she was with the West Market Area Deals team at PricewaterhouseCoopers where she worked on equity and debt capital raise mandates, corporate restructuring, financial modelling, and valuation analysis for publicly-traded and privately-held companies.
Some of her key deals include: Adviser on the acquisition finance capital raise for OML 42 by Neconde Energy Limited during the shell divestment program, adviser to the Federal Government of Nigeria on the Implementation of the settlement agreement for the National Iron Ore Mining Company, Itakpe, Adviser on the acquisition of Nokia Nigeria by Microsoft Mobile oy, an SPV created by Microsoft Corporation, Adviser of the acquisition of majority stake in Forte Oil by Prudent Energy, Adviser on Lease, Redevelop, Operate and Transfer of two (2) hotels owned by the Odu’a Investment Company of Nigeria Limited and Adviser on the Corporate restructuring for Afprint Nigeria PLC.
Yetunde has a bachelor’s degree in Banking and Finance from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a Master’s degree in Management (Finance) from the University of Wales, Swansea. In addition, she has completed the fundamental stage of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, UK. She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School Online.
Adekemi Adebambo is Group Head of Fundamentals at GCR Ratings, Nigeria and has spent over a decade with the company conducting rating analysis on a broad range of entities in diverse sectors of the economy. In her current role, she oversees the analytical team encompassing Financial Institutions and Corporates & Local and Regional Government ratings. Prior to GCR, Adekemi worked at Access Bank Plc (in the Internal Audit Group) and KPMG’s audit and advisory division respectively.
Adekemi is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an Associate of Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, United Kingdom. Adekemi has a master’s degree in international Banking and Finance from Lingnan University, Hong Kong, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan.
Iker is an Analyst in the Moody’s EMEA Corporate Finance Group based in Dubai. He covers a diversified industry portfolio, with exposure in Turkey, Africa, and the Middle East.
He joined Moody’s Dubai office in 2022, and previously worked as an associate analyst in the Moody’s London office covering the leveraged finance industry with exposure to Business and Consumer Services, Healthcare, Airlines and Aerospace & Defense. Before that, he spent 2 years working in the consulting industry in Spain.
Iker holds a Masters Degree in Investment Management from Henley Business School. He also holds a BSc in Business Management from the University of Deusto and is a CFA charterholder since 2018.
Samuel is a seasoned credit analysis expert with over eight years of experience navigating the complexities of multiple economic sectors across Africa. His expertise spans Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, and Francophone Africa, where he has developed a deep understanding of the region's unique credit challenges and opportunities.
With a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Ado Ekiti and an ongoing research background at the Business School Netherlands, Samuel brings a rigorous analytical approach to his work. As Sector Head, Public Finance Ratings at GCR Nigeria, he has played a key role in shaping the country's credit rating landscape. His expertise and insights have been invaluable to his clients and colleagues alike.
Isabella Burke is a Vice President Relationship Manager , Country Manager - South Africa and is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. Isabella’s responsibilities encompass increasing coverage and revenue from new and existing customers in Southern and West Africa. Prior to joining Moody’s Investors Service, Isabella was covering South Africa as Business Development Manager for a London based hedge fund manager. She was tasked with introducing long-only and hedged solutions into the South African market. Isabella has a great depth and breadth of knowledge of capital markets ,having previously worked at Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Credit Suisse and Investec. Isabella studied at King’s College, London and is fluent in Italian and has basic French.
Akintunde is the CEO of Global Credit Rating Company Ltd, Nigeria (GCR). Prior to GCR, he was a vice president at Moody’s Investors Service, focusing on African credit risk and has also held senior analytical positions at HSBC Investment Bank, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank and UniCredit Bank AG.
Akintunde is a CFA charterholder and has a BA in Economics from Leeds University Business School and an MSc in Management from Bayes Business School.
Henry MacNevin, who is based in London, is currently an Associate Managing Director responsible for bank ratings in the Middle-East, South-Eastern Europe and Turkey, and is also responsible for Moody’s global Islamic Finance initiatives. Mr MacNevin joined Moody’s London-based banking team in October 1996, initially as lead analyst for bank in Italy, the United Kingdom, the Nordic region, Belgium, Luxembourg and Hungary, and has also worked as a backup analyst for other banking systems, principally in Europe. He was also previously responsible Associate Managing Director for Moody’s bank ratings in Italy and the CEE region and was the Country Manager for Moody’s in Italy for several years.
Mr. MacNevin’s previous banking experience includes seven years with the Barclaysgroup, where he held positions in strategic planning, corporate banking, and credit risk management.Mr. MacNevin earned a B.A. (Hons) in Business Studies from PortsmouthPolytechnic in the United Kingdom
Lucie oversees Sovereign Ratings in Africa and is the lead analyst for several sovereigns and supranational issuers in the region. Prior to that, she has covered a range of European sovereign credits, spanning both advanced and emerging markets, as well as subsovereign credits. Prior to joining Moody’s in 2007, Lucie spent two years at the French Treasury in the division responsible for projections and analyses of France’s government finances. Lucie holds a postgraduate degree in Probability and Statistics and a Master’s degree in Economics.
Iker is an Analyst in the Moody’s EMEA Corporate Finance Group based in Dubai. He covers a diversified industry portfolio, with exposure in Turkey, Africa, and the Middle East.
He joined Moody’s Dubai office in 2022, and previously worked as an associate analyst in the Moody’s London office covering the leveraged finance industry with exposure to Business and Consumer Services, Healthcare, Airlines and Aerospace & Defense. Before that, he spent 2 years working in the consulting industry in Spain.
Iker holds a Masters Degree in Investment Management from Henley Business School. He also holds a BSc in Business Management from the University of Deusto and is a CFA charterholder since 2018.
Mik Kabeya is a Vice President - Senior Credit Officer in the Financial Institutions Group, based in London. Mik covers financial institutions across the African continent. Prior to relocating to London, Mik was based in Dubai where he covered financial institutions based in the Middle East. Before joining Moody’s, Mik worked at Fullerton Financial Holdings and at BNP Paribas.
Jorge R. Valez is a Senior Vice President at Moody’s Sovereign Risk Group based in London. He serves as lead analyst for a portfolio of sovereigns and multilateral development banks in the EMEA region. He is also a global lead in analytical projects aimed at supporting rating accuracy and thought leadership across sovereign credit risks.
Jorge joined Moody’s in 2014 in the Financial Institutions Group. He also worked at Credit Strategy and Research leading the team responsible for banking projections and stress tests globally, as well as foundational research on ratings and capital markets.
Prior to joining Moody’s, Jorge worked for a bank as a macroeconomist responsible for forecasting and scenario analysis, and as a university lecturer in Macroeconomics and Econometrics.
Jorge is a PhD in Econometrics and holds degrees in Economics and in Business Administration.