With more than 2,000 employees, 51% of whom are women, the BGFIBank Group is a model in Africa. The leading bank in Central Africa, the group is active in Africa and abroad with ten subsidiaries in Africa and one in Europe. At the highest positions, women. Evidence that the decision-making skills of women are well established.
Mrs OYINI DGA BHC«Know that you have a strong group, with dedicated men and women at the head of your subsidiaries!» Said BGFI Chief Executive Officer (CEO), when presenting the results of the 2016 financial year to shareholders in May 2017 in Libreville. Henri-Claude Oyima calls on the platform the executives of the various subsidiaries to greet and congratulate them. The majority is made of female representatives. «We did better than Emmanuel Macron in terms of parity» joked the CEO.
Beyond the joke, the BGFIBank Group has historically always put the emphasis on women and is illustrated by the female leadership. At the BGFI Awards, a ceremony that rewards the best subsidiaries of the group in a series of categories, Myriam Adotevi, General Manager of BGFIBank Benin, received the award for the best social climate of the year 2017. After years bad results, the young subsidiary this year, has a positive balance sheet. «thanks to the work of a whole team,» Myriam Adotevi said humbly. No doubt also thanks to her leadership.
Mrs ADTEVI DG BGFIBank BéninA group that trusts women
«We are lucky, we have to admit, to work for a group that trusts women. The chairman of the group Henri-Claude Oyima advocates a privileged policy towards women», said Huguette Oyini, Deputy General Manager of the BGFIBank Group. A trust that the women of the group successfully won and maintained. «It encourages us to work ever more and better» concludes Huguette Oyini, who occupies the highest position in the group, number 2 after fourteen years in the company, progressively climbing the ladder.
A success that remains far from isolated. Marlene Ngoyi Mvidia, Executive Vice President of BGFIBank Europe, graduate from Harvard Business School, Marlene joined the BGFIBank group four years ago, after an early career in an investment bank in New York. «Gabon is a generally progressive country in terms of gender equality. The Head of State has also dedicated this decade to women, » says Marlene. «In BGFIBank, we are lucky because women are not only in leadership positions, but also in regaliens functions». She emphasizes that this type of promotion is based primarily on skills. «It is not about promoting parity for parity. From my point of view, one must be competent. It is important that the board of directors reflects the company’s progres. But today, it has more than 50% of women. A diversified management is an asset to reach customers of its image». She however observed some of the qualities of the female gender.
«Women are less ego-minded, studies show, they exhibit less deviant behavior,» said Marlene Ngoyi Mvidia.
« Women are more conciliatory. They will always seek consensus and get their teams to share their vision »
«Inherently feminine skills,» says Ludwine Oyeni Amoni, General Manager of BGFIBank Gabon. «A pure BGFI product» in its own words. «This bank taught me everything. I joined BGFIBank Gabon as an internal auditor, » recalls the young woman. «Before I became head of mission, head of the internal audit department, then director of internal audit of BGFIBank Gabon when BGFI Holding Corporation SA was created, and since September 2017, I have been appointed General Manager of BGFIBank Gabon ».
An advance that she owes to rigor – «and the ardor» – that she always put in the accomplishment of the entrusted tasks. At the head of a team of six hundred people, she is at the heart of the functioning mechanisms of BGFIBank Gabon. «Women are more conciliatory and faithful. They will always seek consensus and get their teams to share their vision rather than impose them.» A vision of excellence specific to the BGFIBank Group.
BGFIBank Figures and background
The BGFIBank Group was created in April 1971 by private investors. It is an international multi-business financial group that combines financial strength, sustainable growth strategy and risk management. Leader in Gabon, BGFIBank is also leader in Congo. Also present in Guinea-Conakry, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Sao Tome and Principe, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Senegal, Cameroon, Madagascar and Europe. In 2017, BGFIBank achieved a balance sheet of 2 982 billion CFA francs, positioning itself as the leading financial group of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC).