• Gisèle Mélanie Houngue appointed CEO of BGFIBank Benin, replacing Alexis Louéké

• Veteran of the group with over a decade in finance and audit roles

• Appointment comes as BGFIBank posts strong growth across key metrics

BGFIBank has appointed Gisèle Mélanie Houngue Zegoua as chief executive officer of its Benin subsidiary, marking a leadership change at one of the group’s key operations in West Africa.

She takes over from Alexis Louéké, who led the unit for nearly four years. The appointment, announced on April 9, places her at the head of the group’s first subsidiary in the WAEMU region, with a mandate to drive business expansion and strengthen operational performance.

Houngue Zegoua brings more than a decade of experience within the group. She joined BGFIBank in February 2011 as chief financial officer of its Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary, a role she held for over twelve years. In March 2023, she was promoted to deputy CEO of that unit. She now steps into her first top leadership role within the group.

Before joining BGFIBank, she built her career in audit and financial management. She began in October 2003 as a financial auditor at Mazars Benin, before moving to Mazars Côte d’Ivoire in September 2006. She holds an advanced degree in accounting from the Institut National Polytechnique Houphouët-Boigny.

Her appointment comes as BGFIBank reports strong financial results. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the group’s consolidated balance sheet reached CFA7428 billion ($13.22 billion), up 25% year-on-year.

Customer loans stood at CFA3787 billion, an increase of 6%, while customer deposits rose 10% to CFA4263 billion.

Net banking income climbed 26% to CFA414 billion, driven by higher net interest margins. Net fees held steady at CFA121 billion, and total operating income rose 24% to CFA432 billion.

Chamberline Moko