Set up by the leading Pan-African bank Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, the Ecobank Foundation is an Africa-focused organisation on a mission: we want to improve the quality of life for people across the continent. We do this by deploying Ecobank’s resources, knowledge and expertise with the aim of unlocking opportunities for African communities in which the bank operates.

The Ecobank Foundation focuses on three key areas:

Elisa Desbordes

Chief Operating Officer of the Ecobank Foundation

Throughout her 15-year career in development, she has worked for many Pan-African and international development institutions, including the African Development Bank Group, UNITLIFE (a United Nations Capital Development Fund initiative), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the African Media Initiative, and The ONE Campaign.

Mr. Emmanuel Ikazoboh

Chairman of the Ecobank Foundation

Emmanuel Ikazoboh was Group Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated from 2014 to 2020 and his over 35 years’ experience includes being Chairman and CEO of Deloitte West & Central Africa, Administrator of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and Chairman of Nigeria’s Central Securities Clearing System. 

Elisa Desbordes

Chief Operating Officer of the Ecobank Foundation

Elisa is Senior Corporate Communications, Impact Executive and Chief Operating Officer of the Ecobank Foundation.

Ms. Josephine Anan-Ankomah

Ecobank Regional Executive, CESA, and Managing Director, Ecobank Kenya, and Board Member of the Ecobank Foundation

Josephine has extensive experience in key roles in treasury management, strategy implementation, investment and commercial banking.

Ms. Nana Araba Abban

Ecobank Group Executive, Consumer Banking, and Board Member of the Ecobank Foundation

Nana is Group Executive of Ecobank Consumer Banking and is also a Group Executive Committee member. She has held other senior roles at Ecobank and at Standard Chartered Bank.

Mr. Paul-Harry Aithnard

Ecobank Regional Executive, UEMOA, and Managing Director, Ecobank Côte d’Ivoire, and Board Member of the Ecobank Foundation

Prior to his current role Paul-Harry was Ecobank Group Head, Securities, Wealth and Asset Management. Here he was in charge of brokerage, debt & equity capital markets as well as wealth and fund management activities and grew assets under management to US$1 billion.

Ms. Vanessa Moungar

Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, LVMH, and Board Member of the Ecobank Foundation

Vanessa Moungar supervises the global coordination of LVMH’s actions on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. She is on French President Macron’s Presidential Council for Africa and is a visiting lecturer at Sciences Po Paris.