In order to strengthen the group’s executive management team and sustain its strategic business growth, Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has announced new appointments.
In the new appointments, Olakunle Alake, the erstwhile chief operating officer is now the group managing director and Dr. Adenike Fajemirokun, the group chief risk officer has been elevated to the office of group executive director, president’s office, where she will take on new roles in addition to her schedule as the risk officer. She is the first female executive director in the Dangote Group.
The management also announced the appointment of Austine Ometoruwa as group executive director, corporate finance and treasury.
Earlier the board of Dangote Cement Plc, announced the appointment of Cherie Blair and Mick Davies as independent non-executive directors.
President/CEO, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, speaking on the new appointments, said, “It is exciting seeing a female occupy such a high position. We are gender-sensitive and create equal opportunities for both male and female to get to the top.
“The new appointments are to strengthen the group’s executive management team and to consolidate on its strategic business growth trajectory.”
Alake has been the COO of DIL since 2007. He is also on the board of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, NASCON Allied Industries, Dangote Cement and Dangote Flour Mills. Alake’s experience spans 34 years, which covers banking, management consultancy and manufacturing industries.
He joined the Dangote Group in July 1997 and served as its financial controller and head of strategic services till 2001 when he was appointed to the board of DIL as executive director/group strategist. Alake holds a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Dr. Fajemirokun, a consummate risk management and insurance specialist, has over 18 years’ experience in developing and implementing risk management strategies in financial, engineering, manufacturing and other industries.
She was appointed chief risk officer of Dangote Group in 2013 and leads the risk management functions for the group and its various businesses, where she oversees the company’s governance model and enterprise risk programme.
A holder of a bachelor of engineering degree in civil, structural and fire engineering and a Ph.D. in risk informed engineering both from the University of Manchester, UK, Fajemirokun is a Fellow of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and specialist member (SIRM) of the Global Institute of Risk Management.
Ometoruwa is an accomplished international investment banker. Prior to joining the Dangote Group as the group executive director, Ometoruwa provided advisory services to the Dangote Group for over 25 years in his capacity as the executive chairman of his firm, Boston Trico Capital LLC.
Ometoruwa was the first Nigerian appointed as executive director to the board of Citibank Nigeria, leading its West Africa investment banking, and, subsequently, as CEO and regional director of corporate and investment bank, Citibank Middle East North Africa, operating in Cairo, London and New York.
He was awarded the Dean’s Prize and first class honours bachelor’s degree in banking and finance from the University of Lagos.
Cherie Blair CBE, QC, is a leading barrister with over 35 years’ experience in arbitration, mediation, public international law, human rights, employment law and European Community law.
She studied law at the London School of Economics (LSE) and graduated with a First Class Degree in 1975.
Cherie is closely involved with various charities and is a strong advocate for women’s rights. She is the founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which runs programmes to support women entrepreneurs across the developing world, including Africa.
She is wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Sir Mick Davies is currently Chairman of Macsteel, a global trading shipping company, and Chief Executive of the Conservative party of the United Kingdom.
Davies has occupied several directorship positions. From 2001 to 2003, he was Chief Executive of Xstrata Plc, one of the world’s largest global diversified mining and metal companies; executive director and chief financial officer of Billiton Plc; Chairman of Billiton Coal and Executive Director of South African State-owned Eskom.