Ebenezer Essoka
Ebby is the Executive Chairman of IBURU, an advisory firm focused on Economic Development across Sub-Saharan Africa. He retired from Standard Chartered Bank, as Vice Chairman, Africa in 2015 after 30+ years in senior leadership. Prior to this, he was CEO South Africa and Southern Africa (2008-2013) and CEO Central and West Africa (2004-2008).
He holds an MBA in Finance and a Diploma in International Business and has attended senior executive development programs at INSEAD, London Business School, Templeton College, Oxford University and Cambridge University.
He was the first African to be appointed CEO of an SCB subsidiary after over 135 years of the Group’s
presence in Africa. He successfully managed several subsidiaries in Southern, East, Central, and West
Africa. He has broad experiences ranging from the establishment of greenfield operations to
restructuring and repositioning mature businesses across Asia, the Middle East and Africa. He has served
on 15 SCB Boards, and is currently the Chairman of SCB Cameroon and SCB Côte d’Ivoire; Non-
Executive Director SCB Mauritius and, CRDB Bank Tanzania, Advisor CDC Group, London,
IFC/World Bank Consultant and Senior Consultant, African development Bank, supporting the President and the Senior Director for the African Investment Forum.
Other Career Highlights:
▪ Former Honorary Consul of Finland in Uganda (1996 -1997), where he spearheaded Finland
Development initiatives in Uganda.
▪ He was a founding member of the Ghana Business Coalition against HIV/AIDS and has
spearheaded clean water access and sponsorship of education, youth and sports programs across
Africa.
▪ Former member of Ghana’s Investors’ Advisory Council, chaired by the President of Ghana.
▪ He served as Director on the Main Board of the Banking Association, and Vice Chairman of the
International Bankers’ Association.
▪ He serves on the Global Advisory Council of the London Business School and is a founding
member and trustee of the Global Reach Network Foundation.