Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited has confirmed Ayodeji Adelagun as Chief Executive Officer, following regulatory approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Adelagun, widely known as “Deji”, had served as Acting Chief Executive Officer since January 2026.
His appointment marks an important next chapter for Standard Chartered in Nigeria, bringing together deep local market expertise, extensive leadership experience and a strong understanding of the opportunities shaping the country’s financial sector.
With more than 26 years of banking and financial markets experience across Africa, Adelagun has built his career at the intersection of clients, markets and economic development. Since joining Standard Chartered in 2007, he has held a number of senior leadership roles, including Executive Director and Head of Markets, Nigeria & Africa, and Head of Rates and Credit Trading, West Africa. He is also Chairman of the Board of Standard Chartered Capital and Advisory Nigeria (SCCAN) and Head of Markets, Africa.
Commenting on his appointment, Ayodeji Adelagun, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited, said:
“Nigeria represents a significant long-term opportunity for Standard Chartered, and our ambition is to build on the strength of our franchise to deliver even greater value for our clients and the wider economy.
“As we enter this next chapter, 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. We have an important role to play in connecting Nigerian businesses and investors to opportunities across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and beyond, while supporting the flows of capital and investment that will help unlock the country’s growth potential.
“It is an honour to lead an exceptional team, and together we will continue to build a stronger and more resilient franchise that earns the trust of our clients and delivers sustainable value for our shareholders, colleagues and communities.”
A seasoned financial markets professional, Adelagun has contributed to the development of Nigeria’s domestic capital markets. As a Fellow of the Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA), he led the work-stream that introduced benchmark bonds in Nigeria, helping to deepen the domestic bond market and supporting Nigeria’s inclusion in the JP Morgan Emerging Markets Index.
He also pioneered bond trading desks at FSDH and Standard Chartered Bank and, earlier in his career, worked across Banking Operations, Commercial Banking and Treasury at Access Bank Plc.
Adelagun holds an MBA from Lagos Business School and a BSc in Economics from the University of Ilorin. He is an alumnus of IESE Business School’s Executive Management Programme, has undertaken executive education at INSEAD, and is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the ACI Financial Markets Association.
His confirmation underscores Standard Chartered’s focus on strong local leadership and disciplined execution as it continues to serve clients, support economic development and capture long-term opportunities in Nigeria.
Standard Chartered Nigeria confirms appointment of Ayodeji Adelagun as CEO