Afreximbank appoints new Southern Africa director based in Harare

Business Reporter

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has appointed Mr Peter Adeshola Olowononi as Director for Regional Operations, Southern Africa, with the new executive to be based in Harare, Zimbabwe, as part of a broader leadership restructuring aimed at deepening client engagement across the continent and the Caribbean.

Mr Olowononi, who previously served as Director for Client Relations in Anglophone West Africa, brings extensive experience in client coverage, transaction origination, and regional business development to his new role. He will lead the Bank’s operations and strategic engagement across the Southern African region from Zimbabwe’s capital.

The appointment is among five senior leadership changes announced by the Cairo-based pan-African lender on Monday, which also include postings to West Africa, East Africa, and the Caribbean.

Mr Eric Intong Monchu has been confirmed as Group Managing Director for Client Relations and Regional Operations, based at the Bank’s headquarters in Cairo, while Mr Kudakwashe Matereke moves to Abuja as Director for Anglophone West Africa and Mr Humphrey Nwugo takes up the Eastern Africa portfolio in Kampala. In the Caribbean, Mr Roy Reid has been appointed Chief Operating Officer for the Bank’s Caribbean Office in Bridgetown, Barbados.

Afreximbank said the appointments were integral to its growth ambitions and efforts to accelerate intra-African trade, industrialisation, and regional integration. By strengthening leadership across its regional platforms, the Bank said it was positioning itself to expand market coverage, improve transaction execution, and deepen engagement with clients and stakeholders.

“These appointments highlight the depth of leadership and professional talent within Afreximbank, as well as our commitment to placing experienced executives at the centre of executing the Bank’s development mandate – a mandate to change the structure of African trade,” said Dr George Elombi, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors at Afreximbank.

“Each appointee brings valuable experience and deep knowledge of African and Caribbean markets. Above all, each shares a strong belief in the Bank’s founding philosophy that Africa’s development destiny lies with Africans and that our collective mission is to restore the dignity of the African,” Dr Elombi added.

With most of the appointees having progressed from within the Bank, Afreximbank said they brought strong institutional knowledge, established client relationships, and a clear understanding of the Bank’s strategic priorities. This continuity, the Bank noted, would support faster execution, greater responsiveness to market needs, and delivery of its growth, trade, and development targets.

The appointments are effective immediately.