(Togo First) - Beninese national Serge Ekue, a former executive at French financial institution Natixis, has led the West African Development Bank (BOAD) since Aug. 28, 2020.

He studied at HEC Paris, earned a postgraduate degree in banking and finance from Paris V University and Sciences Po Bordeaux, and built a long career in international investment banking. Before joining BOAD, he served as Natixis’ head of Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in London.

After taking office, Ekue launched a broad transformation of the Lomé-based regional development bank. Through the Djoliba 2021–2025 strategic plan, BOAD prioritized five sectors: agriculture and food security, renewable energy, basic infrastructure, health, education and social housing. The plan initially targeted CFA3.3 trillion in financing, with one-quarter earmarked for the private sector.

The plan ultimately surpassed its original targets. BOAD reported cumulative financing of CFA3.7623 trillion under Djoliba 2021–2025, or more than 112% of its initial objective, while total assets reached CFA5.3635 trillion. The bank also completed a 15-year, €1 billion bond issue, which it said was the longest euro-denominated bond ever issued by an African multilateral development bank.

In March 2026, the WAEMU Council of Ministers approved BOAD’s new strategic plan, which aims to mobilize CFA6.5 trillion in financing over the 2026–2030 period, nearly double the previous plan. Ekue now heads the region’s leading public development finance institution, serving the eight member states of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU).