Release Appointment of the Director General

Birahim DIOUF has been appointed as the new Director General of the Central Depository/Settlement Bank (DC/BR). His appointment was confirmed following the Board of Directors meeting held on June 7, 2022, at the institution's headquarters. Effective from July 1, 2022, this appointment marks a significant milestone in the process of granting greater autonomy to the central structures of the UEMOA Regional Financial Market.

The DC/BR is the institution within the UEMOA Regional Financial Market responsible for the centralization and custody of securities, ensuring the successful completion of clearing operations on the financial market, off-market transactions, and corporate actions.

Mr. Birahim DIOUF has over 30 years of experience in the financial sector, particularly in capital markets and investment banking. Before his appointment as Director General of DC/BR, he served as Deputy Director General of DC/BR since January 2021. Prior to that, he held positions as Director of the Studies, Strategy, and Market Development Department at BRVM and DC/BR, as well as Director of Operations at DC/BR.

He began his career at Citigroup and first joined the central structures of the Regional Financial Market in February 1998, serving as Director of Operations at DC/BR until 2003. He later joined BMCE Capital, worked as a Senior Consultant for capital markets at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, and served at African Alliance Investment Bank, an investment bank based in South Africa.

Mr. Birahim DIOUF holds an MBA from the Sorbonne Graduate School of Business, an Executive MBA from INSEEC Business School, a Master’s degree in Economics from Paris-I Panthéon-Sorbonne, a postgraduate diploma in Islamic Finance from the Institute of Islamic Banking and Insurance (IIBI) in London, and a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from Paris IX Dauphine. He has also obtained several certifications, including in leadership, sustainable development, and green finance.

As a reminder, the Central Depository/Settlement Bank (DC/BR) centralizes the custody of securities for its members, ensures the smooth execution of settlement/delivery operations following stock market transactions, and manages the payment of corporate actions.

As a full member of the Association of National Numbering Agencies (ANNA), it is responsible for the securities numbering process within UEMOA. DC/BR was established in 1996 and officially commenced operations on September 16, 1998, simultaneously with the Regional Stock Exchange (BRVM).