Executive Committee

Mr. Sionle YEO, Group CEO of AFG Holding is an engineer by training from École Centrale de Marseille for Civil Engineering and Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble for Automation and Industrial Computing). He began his career as a Systems and Network Engineer at Énergie Electrique de Côte d'Ivoire (EECI), before joining the Société Générale Group. In Côte d'Ivoire he held the positions of Chief Information Officer, Chief Finance and Information Officer, before being promoted Deputy Managing Director of SGCI in 2008.

He was subsequently appointed Managing Director of the Société Générale universal banking subsidiaries in Burkina Faso (2011), then in Ghana (2015). In these two countries, he led a deep transformation and a rapid expansion programs that increased both the visibility and the profitability of the banks.

In 2018, the Société Générale Group appointed him to build and lead the newly created Regional Directorate for Central and Eastern Africa, headquartered in Douala and covering 6 countries, a position he left in June 2021 to join the AFG Group.

A statistician-economist and financial engineer, Mr. KONE has gained extensive professional experience primarily in North America (Canada) and Africa. Prior to joining AFG Holding, he held several strategic positions at the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec, one of the largest pension funds in North America. Within the Ecobank Group, he led the investment teams of the asset management division, before overseeing commercial activities in the Treasury Department as well as the development and distribution of market products in the WAEMU region and Cape Verde.

Karim holds an Executive MBA from HEC Paris, a Master’s degree in Financial Engineering from Université Laval (Canada), and a State Engineering degree in Statistics and Economics from INSEA in Rabat. He also holds CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) and FRM (Financial Risk Manager) certifications, as well as several executive certifications in strategy, asset management, leadership, and management, obtained notably from HEC Paris and the Wharton Business School.

A certified public accountant, Mr. BOUBA has significant experience in banking regulatory bodies within the CEMAC region.

He served as an Inspector at COBAC in 2007, then as Chief Financial Officer at BDEAC in 2016. In 2018, he became Deputy Director of Accounting at BEAC, where he contributed to the institution’s transition to IFRS standards, before joining AFG in September 2021.

A corporate officer and CEO of a banking subsidiary, Mr. Ganga has extensive expertise in leadership, project coordination and organization, as well as in defining and implementing banking development and transformation strategies, notably within the BNP PARIBAS Group.

An economist by training (DESS, Université Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne), he joined the AFG Group in April 2021 to facilitate the transition of former BNP subsidiaries.

Ms. YATASSAYE has held various positions across multiple sectors, including agribusiness, media, and banking, before joining AFG Bank CI in March 2024 as Director of Marketing and Communication.

With extensive experience in institutional and brand marketing and communication, she will make a significant contribution to the implementation of key projects, including building the AFG Bank and Insurance brand, leading the rebranding efforts, and driving our Wenovate strategy, which will distinguish us across different markets.

Her project management expertise and knowledge of several African markets will be valuable assets in tackling upcoming challenges, particularly in driving change within our subsidiaries.

Holding a DESS in Finance & Management Control from the National University of Benin and the ITB (Banking Technical Institute) of CFPB (France), Mr. ALLAGBÉ Djidjoho Pierre has extensive professional experience.

Previously, he served as Deputy Risk Director and Director of Studies at BOA Benin, as well as Risk Director at ECOBANK Benin. He joined AFG Holding in June 2021 and currently serves as the Group’s Director of Risk and Permanent Control.

With extensive experience in banking internal control and a Professional Master’s degree in Finance and Accounting, Ms. Cada DJENZOU began her career within the Société Générale Group.

She successively held the positions of Audit Team Leader, Managerial Supervision Officer, Director of Permanent Control, and Director of Compliance at SG Côte d’Ivoire between 2007 and 2022. She joined the AFG Group in February 2022 to lead its compliance framework.

A graduate of ITB and holding a DESS in Audit and Management Control as well as a Master’s degree in Accounting and Financial Technical Sciences (MSTCF) from the University of Abidjan Cocody, Mr. Ghislain MALAN has extensive experience, primarily in control functions at Ecobank, BNI, ABI, and Société Générale Côte d’Ivoire.

He successively held the positions of Internal Controller, Chief Internal Audit Officer, Head of Compliance, Department Head, and Director of Permanent Control before joining AFG Holding in January 2022 in the same role.

Following a professional transition, he has served as the Group’s Director of Operations since late 2022.

Holding a Master’s degree in Banking and Financial Law from the University of Montpellier, Ms. Geneviève KANTE has extensive professional experience. She served as Legal Manager at BCI-Mali SA, and later as Legal Director of Banque Internationale pour le Commerce et l’Industrie au Mali (BICIM), a former BNP Paribas subsidiary acquired by the AFG Group in December 2020.

Ms. KANTE joined AFG Holding in December 2021 as Director of Legal Affairs and Governance.

A highly qualified professional, Irène TUO joined AFG Holding in December 2022, following extensive experience, including significant roles in banking, particularly in retail management.

She holds a Master’s degree in Management & Marketing, as well as several certificates from Yale, HEC, and ESSEC. A graduate of the Banking Technical Institute (ITB), she is also a senior lecturer at the École Supérieure de la Banque in Paris.

With a career rich in commercial, marketing, and skills development roles, Irène is also an experienced trainer in management, sales practices, and co-development.

Beginning her career in Abidjan, De Ghimelle has demonstrated undeniable technical and interpersonal skills.

She has acquired diverse professional experience in Côte d’Ivoire and France, working with companies such as ORANGE, Bouygues Energies & Services, ESA (European Space Agency), and General Electric Healthcare.

After recently serving as Lead Cybersecurity for Eastern Europe at L’ORÉAL, she returned home to join AFG Holding as Director of Information Systems Security (DSSI) since July 21, 2023.

Fluent in English, French, and Spanish, De Ghimelle holds a Master’s degree in IT Project Management from IGS Paris. She also earned an Executive MBA in Cybersecurity Management and Information Systems Governance — where she served as class president — from the prestigious École de Guerre Économique in Paris 7.

Holding a Financial Modeling & Valuation Analyst (FMVA) certification and an AMP from Yale School of Management, Mr. Emmanuel DAX is a certified public accountant (CPA in training).

He has significant experience, notably with the consulting firm Mazars in West and Central Africa, where he served as a manager in financial and organizational consulting, primarily for financial institutions such as ABI, NSIA, GROUPE COFINA, and BDU.

Mr. DAX joined AFG Holding in April 2021 as Head of the Finance Department.

Natou YAO-COULIBALY joined AFG Holding in December 2021 as Head of the Organization Department.

Throughout her career, she has developed expertise in strategy, organization, and organizational transformation. A graduate with a Master’s degree in Organizational Management from the University of Abidjan-Cocody, Natou has worked in diverse professional environments, including banking (Société Générale Côte d’Ivoire, BICICI, former BNP Paribas subsidiary, Orange Bank Africa) and auditing (Deloitte, one of the Big Four).

In 2024, she was promoted to Director of Organization and Processes.

A generalist industrial engineer trained at INPHB in Yamoussoukro, Mr. Woun KONE is also a graduate of the Banking Technical Institute (ITB) at CFPB Nanterre.

He gained significant experience at BICICI, Atlantic Business International (ABI), and Orange Bank Africa as Project Manager.

Mr. KONE joined AFG Holding in November 2021 as Head of the Projects Department.

In September 2024, he was promoted to Director of Projects and Innovation.