• Orange Bank Africa appointed Ivorian executive Audrey Koffi Niamkey as chief executive officer to lead the bank’s next phase of growth in the WAEMU region.

• The digital bank has distributed more than CFA710 billion ($1.2 billion) in loans to over 3.3 million customers in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal since its launch in 2020.

• Audrey Koffi previously served as director of commercial development and strategy after joining the bank in 2020 as chief risk officer.

On Wednesday, May 6, Orange Bank Africa announced the appointment of Ivorian executive Audrey Koffi Niamkey as its new chief executive officer. She succeeds Jean-Louis Menann-Kouamé and will oversee the bank’s commercial strategy, strengthen operations in existing markets and lead expansion across the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).

“I am honored to take the leadership of Orange Bank Africa today. Over the past years, under the leadership of Jean-Louis Menann-Kouamé, the company has built a solid and relevant model aligned with the realities of our markets. We will continue this momentum with a clear ambition: accelerate access to simple, accessible and tailored financial solutions while strengthening our innovation capacity across the region,” Audrey Koffi said.

Orange Bank Africa emerged in July 2020 from a partnership between Orange Group and banking group NSIA. The institution operates as a fully digital bank across the UEMOA region and has positioned itself as a major financial inclusion player in West Africa. Since launching operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, the bank has distributed more than CFA710 billion (about $1.2 billion) in loans to over 3.3 million customers.

Audrey Koffi brings extensive institutional knowledge to the role. She joined the company in 2020 as chief risk officer and most recently served as director of commercial development and strategy before her appointment as CEO.

She graduated from the University of Abidjan in 2005 with a master’s degree in economics and business management. She began her professional career in 2008 at Standard Chartered Bank as a financial analyst. At the same time, she also worked as an auditor for Deloitte.

In 2009, she became head of internal control at financial company SOCOFIN, now known as Alios Finance. From 2010 to 2020, she served as head of risk and compliance at BGFIBank Congo.

This article was initially published in French by Melchior Koba

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum