Africa’s stock exchanges have grown into a major part of the continent’s financial system, with more than 1,100 listed companies and a combined market capitalisation of about $2 trillion, according to the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA).

However the OECD estimates that South Africa, Morocco and Egypt accounted for about 80% of Africa’s total stock market capitalisation in 2025.

Against this background, Nairametrics has highlighted 10 CEOs leading some of the largest companies featured across Africa’s capital markets.

Here are the 10 executives featured in the list:

1. Abena Osei-Poku – Managing Director, Ecobank Ghana

Abena Osei-Poku is the Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana and the first Ghanaian executive featured on the list.

Ecobank Ghana has a market capitalisation of about GH¢12.6 billion, equivalent to approximately $1.11 billion.

She leads the Ghanaian subsidiary of Ecobank, one of the major banking groups operating across Africa.

2. James Mwangi – Group MD/CEO, Equity Group

James Mwangi is the Group Managing Director and CEO of Equity Group in Kenya.

Equity Group has a market capitalisation of about KSh400 billion, equivalent to approximately $3.09 billion.

The Kenyan banking group has operations across several African markets.

3. Ahmed Elsewedy – CEO, Elsewedy Electric

Ahmed Elsewedy is the CEO of Elsewedy Electric, an Egyptian company operating in the electrical and energy sectors.

The company has a market capitalisation of about $5.46 billion.

Elsewedy Electric is involved in areas including energy infrastructure and electrical products.

4. Stephen Blewett – CEO, MTN Ghana

Stephen Blewett is the CEO of MTN Ghana, one of Ghana’s major telecommunications companies.

MTN Ghana has a market capitalisation of about GH¢7.92 billion.

The company operates in Ghana’s telecommunications and digital services market.

5. Hisham Ezz Al-Arab – CEO, Commercial International Bank

Hisham Ezz Al-Arab is the CEO of Commercial International Bank (CIB) in Egypt.

The bank has a market capitalisation of approximately $9.4 billion.

CIB is one of Egypt’s major banking institutions.

6. Peter Ndegwa – CEO, Safaricom

Peter Ndegwa is the CEO of Safaricom, one of Kenya’s biggest telecommunications companies.

Safaricom has a market capitalisation of about KSh1.5 trillion, equivalent to approximately $11.59 billion.

The company is also known for its major role in Kenya’s mobile financial services sector.

7. Arvind Pathak – Group MD/CEO, Dangote Cement
Arvind Pathak is the Group Managing Director and CEO of Dangote Cement in Nigeria.

Dangote Cement has a market capitalisation of about ₦17.4 trillion, equivalent to approximately $13 billion.

The company is one of Africa’s major cement producers, with operations extending beyond Nigeria.

8. Sunil Taldar – CEO, Airtel Africa

Sunil Taldar is the CEO of Airtel Africa, one of the continent’s major telecommunications companies.

Airtel Africa has a market capitalisation of about ₦23.6 trillion, equivalent to approximately $17.9 billion.

The company operates mobile telecommunications services across several African countries.

9. Mike Fraser – CEO, Gold Fields

Mike Fraser is the CEO of Gold Fields, one of Africa’s major gold mining companies.

Gold Fields has a market capitalisation of about $42.7 billion.

The South African mining company has operations in several countries and remains a major player in the global gold industry.

10. Alberto Calderon – CEO, AngloGold Ashanti

Alberto Calderon is the CEO of AngloGold Ashanti, another major gold mining company with strong African roots.

The company has a market capitalisation of about $46.14 billion.

AngloGold Ashanti operates gold mines across several countries and is one of the major companies in Africa’s mining sector.

See post below

Africa’s stock exchanges have grown into a roughly $2 trillion market, bringing together more than 1,100 listed companies across the continent’s capital markets, according to the African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA).

The OECD estimates that South Africa, Morocco and… pic.twitter.com/0sU8vuHtpM

— Nairametrics (@Nairametrics) September 25, 2026