Abidjan, June 27, 2025 – The Board of Directors of the pan-African industrial group Eranove has endorsed the appointment of Ahmadou Bakayoko as Chief Executive Officer, replacing Marc Albérola, who held the position since 2009. This relay, presented as a strategic transition, marks a new milestone in the group’s trajectory, active in the management of public electricity and water services in Africa.
“After 16 years at the helm of Eranove, I proposed a governance transition to allow the Group to continue its development, in a logic of continuity and operational excellence,” said Marc Albérola. He said he was “happy to pass the torch to Ahmadou Bakayoko”, praising the journey of a leader who has been able to drive growth at CIE and SODECI, two iconic subsidiaries of the group in Côte d’Ivoire, since 2019.
Indeed, under the leadership of Ahmadou Bakayoko, the customer portfolio of these two companies has doubled, illustrating the efficiency of the management model and the regional deployment ambition of Eranove.
“It is with pride that I take over from Marc Albérola, whose commitment and vision I salute. The Eranove Group, with its 9,600 employees, embodies a unique African model, combining expertise throughout the water and electricity value chain, local roots, and public-private partnerships,” reacted the new Chief Executive Officer, who will officially take up his duties on July 16, 2025. He will also serve as General Administrator of Eranove Côte d’Ivoire.
A graduate of the École Polytechnique and Télécom Paris, Ahmadou Bakayoko first worked in venture capital in California before joining Capgemini Consulting and Canal+ in France. He then led the Radiotélévision Ivoirienne (RTI) for nearly a decade, deeply transforming the public broadcaster.
“Marc Albérola has been one of the major architects of the Group’s pan-African influence. I am convinced that Ahmadou Bakayoko, with his profile as a builder and his solid knowledge of the continent’s challenges, will elevate Eranove’s ambitions,” said Vincent Le Guennou, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Eranove Group is currently present in Côte d’Ivoire (SODECI, CIE, CIPREL, Atinkou, Awale, Smart Energy), Senegal (SDE, SDER), Togo (Kékéli), and Benin (Omilayé), and is developing projects in several countries including Mali, Gabon, Madagascar, and the DRC.
A process is underway to appoint new Chief Executive Officers for CIE and SODECI.
