René Awambeng is a seasoned corporate and investment banker with three decades of experience spanning Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East. Over his distinguished career, he has structured, led, and driven more than US $8 billion in revenues and facilitated transactions exceeding US $300 billion across diverse sectors, including energy, trade-enabling infrastructure, commodities, and financial services for wholesale corporate clients.

He served as Global Head of Client Relations at the African Export–Import Bank (Afreximbank), where over eight years he was instrumental in growing the balance sheet and profitability, strengthening strategic partnerships, and advancing the Bank’s mandate to promote intra-African trade across member states and global markets. Prior to this, Mr Awambeng held senior executive leadership positions at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), including Global Head of Corporate and Regional Corporates, and Structured and Commodity Finance, based in Europe and the United Arab Emirates (Paris, London, and Dubai). He also served as Chief Executive Officer for Ecobank subsidiaries across Africa, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, and Cameroon.

Recognised for his strategic vision, cross-border expertise, and ability to deliver transformative results, René continues to play a key role in shaping Africa’s financial landscape and fostering sustainable economic growth. He also serves on the boards of several financial, philanthropic, and advocacy institutions, including Fedhen Capital, the Awambeng Renal Care Foundation, the African Sepsis Alliance, Invest Africa, the Africa Energy Chamber, and the SME Trade & Business Commonwealth Entrepreneurs Club.