Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited has confirmed Ayodeji Adelagun as its Chief Executive Officer following regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The bank announced the appointment in a statement made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday, noting that Adelagun, who is widely known as Deji, had served as acting CEO since January 2026.
Adelagun’s confirmation comes as the bank seeks to deepen client relationships, pursue sustainable growth and strengthen connections between Nigerian businesses and international markets.
He has more than 26 years of experience in banking and financial markets across Africa, having joined Standard Chartered in 2007 and subsequently held several senior leadership positions.
His previous roles include Executive Director and Head of Markets, Nigeria and Africa, as well as Head of Rates and Credit Trading for West Africa. He is also Chairman of the board of Standard Chartered Capital and Advisory Nigeria and Head of Markets for Africa.
Commenting on his appointment, Adelagun said Nigeria remained a significant long-term opportunity for the bank, adding that it would build on its existing operations to deliver greater value to clients and the wider economy.
“My focus will be on deepening our client relationships, driving disciplined and sustainable growth, and bringing the full strength of Standard Chartered’s international network and capabilities to clients in Nigeria,” he said.
He added that the bank would seek to connect Nigerian businesses and investors to opportunities across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and other markets, while supporting capital flows and investment into the country.
Adelagun has also contributed to the development of Nigeria’s domestic capital market. According to the bank, he led a workstream that introduced benchmark bonds in Nigeria, an initiative it said helped deepen the domestic bond market and supported the country’s inclusion in the JPMorgan Emerging Markets Index.
He also pioneered bond trading desks at FSDH and Standard Chartered Bank. Earlier in his career, he worked in banking operations, commercial banking and treasury at Access Bank Plc.
Adelagun holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of Ilorin and an MBA from Lagos Business School. He is also an alumnus of IESE Business School’s Executive Management Programme and has undertaken executive education at INSEAD.
He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, the Financial Markets Dealers Association and the ACI Financial Markets Association.
The bank said his confirmation reflected its focus on local leadership and disciplined execution as it continued to serve clients and pursue long-term opportunities in Nigeria.
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