A distinguished investment banker and veteran with a career spanning over three decades in finance, advisory, securitization, restructuring, and mergers & acquisitions. Ayodele was responsible for managing Intercontinental Bank’s Investment Banking Group where he handled several capital market transactions. Prior to this, he worked for Central Bank of Nigeria, ICON (Merchant Bankers) Limited and Federal Ministry of Industry.

Having played key roles in facilitating various business combinations, mergers/acquisitions and strategic corporate buy-ins, which led to the emergence of the global Dangote Group, and the Intercontinental Group (Intercontinental Bank, Equity Bank, Associated Discount House, Gateway Bank, WAPIC Insurance, Intercontinental Securities, and Intercontinental Capital Markets), his professionalism has earned him the respect of numerous clients and peers within the market.

Ayodele Thomas is a graduate of Economics and Masters in Finance, in addition to several professional certifications from notable schools such as the Institute of Management Development, Lausanne, Switzerland; and the Bank Risk Management with International Development Institute, Dublin, Ireland amongst others.