As well as being appointed Managing Director, the Congolese banker will also be head of corporate and investment banking at Standard Bank DRC. She replaces Amedeo Anniciello, who retired in March 2023.
Standard Bank is one of the largest investment banks in the DRC. It has injected more than $300 million into the Congolese economy over the past 12 months.
Prior to her appointment, Marie-Gabrielle Opese had been Deputy Managing Director of Standard Bank DRC since April 2020, combining this position with that of Risk & Credit Director and Corporate Secretary, functions she has held since September 2009 when she joined Standard Bank. In this role, she was responsible for supervising and managing the credit, compliance, legal, market and operational risk teams; organizing Board meetings, drafting and recording minutes; and advising the Board on compliance with corporate governance (local and group regulatory requirements).
Former Ecobank and Citi executive
Before joining Standard Bank, Marie-Gabrielle Opese worked for Ecobank, from 2008 to 2009, as Audit Director. Long before that, she worked at Citibank for 13 years as Compliance Director (2004-2008), a position she combined with that of Public Affairs. She also played a coordinating role in the organization of the Executive Committee and was a member of the Executive Committee. At Citibank, Marie-Gabrielle Opese was also Director of Operations (Customer Service Management), where she oversaw the management of dedicated customer services for international organizations such as Heineken, Unilever, Unicef, etc., as well as the management of cash and foreign cheques.
Marie-Gabrielle Opese holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, finance and financial management services, with a specialization in financial analysis, from the University of Lubumbashi, and a master’s degree in business administration from Beulah Heights University in Atlanta (USA).
Continuing the bank’s growth trajectory
Yinka Sanni, CEO Africa of Standard Bank, said that the DRC is a key market offering enormous growth opportunities: “We are confident that Opese, with its in-depth knowledge and experience of the DRC market, will continue the growth trajectory in a market offering attractive growth prospects and investment banking opportunities. We have a long history in the DRC, and with our deep specialization and long-term experience in natural resources, Opese and its management team will continue to focus on the multinational ecosystem and value chain of large local companies,” he said.
For Yinka Sanni, growth in the DRC will be driven by Standard Bank’s expertise in working with government, international organizations and the mining sector.
