Ivorian national Ahmadou Bakayoko has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of the pan-African industrial group Eranove, a key player in public service management and the production of electricity and drinking water in Africa.

The announcement was made on Friday, June 27, 2025, by the Group’s Board of Directors. Mr. Bakayoko succeeds Mr. Marc Albérola.

“After 16 years at the helm of the Eranove Group, I proposed to the Board of Directors to organize a governance transition to allow the Group to continue its development, with the same commitment to improving its operational and ESG performance,” said Mr. Albérola.

“This decision was approved by the Board. I am very pleased to hand over to Mr. Ahmadou Bakayoko, who is a natural successor,” he added.

Marc Albérola expressed his satisfaction with the progress made by Eranove since Mr. Bakayoko joined the Group.

“Since taking office in 2019 as a member of the Executive Committee and as CEO of both the Compagnie Ivoirienne d’Électricité (CIE) and the Société de Distribution d’Eau de Côte d’Ivoire (SODECI), both companies have experienced significant growth, with their customer base doubling,” he stated.

“It is with gratitude and pride that I succeed Mr. Marc Albérola, whom I sincerely thank for the trust he placed in me since my appointment as CEO of CIE and SODECI,” said Mr. Bakayoko in turn.

With over 9,600 employees, the Eranove Group has developed a unique model on the continent, combining deep African roots with expertise across the entire water and electricity value chain (from project structuring and development to production, network management, distribution, and commercialization), and a strong commitment to public-private partnerships.

“Together with all the teams, I will do everything possible to continue along the path laid out by Marc,” promised Mr. Bakayoko, who will assume his new role on July 16. He will also succeed Mr. Albérola as Managing Director of Eranove Côte d’Ivoire.

Meanwhile, a recruitment process has been launched to appoint new CEOs for the Group’s two subsidiaries, CIE and SODECI.

A graduate of École Polytechnique and Télécom Paris (France), Ahmadou Bakayoko began his career at an investment fund in Silicon Valley, USA, before working in France at Capgemini Consulting and Canal+, later joining the Ivorian Radio and Television (RTI) in May 2012 as Deputy CEO and then CEO in 2013.

“I would like to warmly thank Mr. Marc Albérola for his unwavering commitment at the head of the Group. He led a pan-African industrial strategy based on strong values and effective, high-performance, sustainable solutions tailored to the African challenge of access to essential services,” said Vincent Le Guennou, Chairman of the Board.

“I am confident that Mr. Ahmadou Bakayoko will continue on this path with equal success,” he concluded.