Accra: has appointed Mr. Charles Boakye Nimako as its new Board Chair, effective January 1, 2026. Mr. Nimako succeeds Mrs. Freda Yahan Duplan, who has served in the role since 2020 and is stepping down after completing her maximum six-year tenure.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Duplan provided leadership that guided the Bank through significant periods of resilience and innovation. She will continue to serve as an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Zenith Bank Ghana, contributing her extensive experience.
Mr. Nimako has been a member of Zenith Bank Ghana's Board since 2023. He served as an Independent Non-Executive Director and Chairman of the Risk, Cyber Security Committee. His new role is supported by his substantial experience in corporate governance, financial services, and strategic leadership.
In his professional journey, Mr. Nimako is the Director of Africa Initiatives for Safe Water Network, a U.S.-based NGO. He established the Safe Water Network Ghana office in May 2010, following various senior leadership roles within PepsiCo's franchise operations in Ghana and other African markets. His previous roles include CEO positions at Beverage Investments Ghana Limited and SBC Beverages Ghana Limited and serving as Director of Sales and Marketing for Ghana and Franchise Operations Manager for Kenya, Uganda, and Ethiopia. He also served as Consultant and Project Director for AngoAlissar LDA in Luanda, Angola.
Beyond corporate leadership, Mr. Nimako's global experience includes management consulting and professional accounting. He worked as a Management Consultant with McKinsey and Company in Johannesburg and London, a staff accountant with Coopers and Lybrand (now PwC) in Los Angeles, and as an Audit Manager at Great Western Financial Corporation in Beverly Hills, California.
Currently, Mr. Nimako is the Board Chair of Unilever Ghana PLC and serves on the boards of Beverage Investments Limited (Pepsi-Cola) and Beverly Ranch Ghana Limited. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and holds an MBA in Management from Stanford Business School in California, USA.
Mr. Henry Onwuzurigbo, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank Ghana, described the appointment as pivotal for the Bank's next growth phase. He expressed that Mr. Nimako's appointment ensures a smooth transition and continuity at the leadership level, highlighting his strategic insight and governance experience as invaluable for strengthening the Bank's position in Ghana's banking sector. Mr. Onwuzurigbo emphasized a shared vision of driving innovation, enhancing customer experience, and achieving sustainable growth.
Mr. Nimako expressed his honor in taking on this responsibility and looks forward to building upon the Bank's strong track record of disciplined execution and growth, advancing Zenith Bank's vision of excellence, innovation, and customer-centricity in Ghana's financial sector.