Hello to a Truly Good Morning — Congratulations, Ms. Sheila! [ARTICLE]

I woke up to the beautiful news of the appointment of Ms. Sheila Azuntaba as Deputy Managing Director of the Consolidated Bank Ghana. By far, it is the best news to crown a rather fruitful week, and I could not hold back my excitement. Indeed, this is truly a “Good Morning”—one that lives up to its billing of how a great day should begin.

My Encounter with Ms. Sheila

My first encounter with Sheila was around December 2022. I had attended an interview for the role of Head of Marketing in a company where she served as Chief Executive Officer. That interview was unlike the traditional format, where a CV appears more important than the individual. Instead, it felt more like an interactive session designed to draw out the best a prospective candidate could offer.

For those who know Sheila, you’d agree when I say her infectious smile could calm a temperate storm. Even though I was meeting her team for the first time, she created an aura of warmth that made me feel at home. This marked the beginning of an incredible journey as the Head of Marketing, reporting directly to an awesome boss—Ms. Sheila Azuntaba.

Sheila is the reason I moved to my current location, where I have lived for the past two and a half years. She gave me the rare opportunity to explore marketing communications in critical sectors including healthcare, education, restaurants, and others.

Her Role as CEO

As Chief Executive Officer, Sheila managed more than seven entities under the business portfolio. Personally, I was amazed by the exceptional grace and empathy she brought to this far-reaching and demanding role. Together, Sheila led a team of young, vibrant, and creative managers to achieve remarkable successes—milestones never before recorded in the annals of those businesses.

A stickler for structure and systems, she instituted and personally supervised many groundbreaking reforms in operations, marketing, and reporting across all entities. Through her positive and human-centered leadership approach, we achieved significant administrative, operational, financial, and marketing milestones—particularly in businesses that had never embraced formal marketing practices.

What to Expect

Having worked directly under Sheila as Head of Marketing, I can confidently assure the good people of CBG to expect nothing less than an exceptionally affable, likeable, and personable professional—one who masters the art of bringing out the best in employees without making them feel undervalued.

During my time with her, never did I feel inadequate, incapable, or incompetent. Sheila was a shield who never compromised on standards. She would not withhold praise nor be silent about performance. As Head of Marketing, I lost count of the number of times she used the word “awesome” to describe my work. Sheila gives feedback—and trust me, it is fair and kind.

She is a people-centered professional who carries her team along and listens intently. Our brainstorming sessions were lively, thought-provoking, and creatively stimulating—and I don’t expect anything different in her new role. You will leave meetings with Sheila feeling empowered and emboldened to achieve more, even in turbulent times. As a leader, she will be the last person to throw any team member under the bus.

I have no doubt that her exceptional track record in investment banking operations and internationally acquired experience will be fully leveraged. As a champion and advocate for gender empowerment and work-life balance, I believe this is the best time to work at CBG—regardless of your role, level, or position.

Conclusion

As CBG seeks to reset and consolidate its footprint in Ghana’s banking sector, I am without doubt that Sheila will bring her well-tested personal and professional expertise to support the Managing Director in driving this transformational agenda. From what I know of Sheila, I have no doubt that her position as Deputy Chief Executive will significantly benefit the bank’s growth across all its business lines.

I’ve already told a few friends who work at CBG what to expect from Sheila’s leadership—and I have no qualms about her ability to deliver at the highest level, exceeding both my expectations and theirs.

Disclaimer

I am not one given to flattery or any form of sycophancy. Personally, I don’t even enjoy being flattered, even at my best. That said, I also do not bury my head in the sand when it’s time to speak about people I’ve personally encountered. I feel obliged and responsible to share honest reflections, especially on individuals who have left a mark on my professional journey.

Consider this a personal testimony on the newly appointed Deputy CEO of Consolidated Bank Ghana, Ms. Sheila Azuntaba. Her tenure will never go unnoticed.

Samuel Boateng Osarfo
Marketing Communications Consultant / Researcher
@kingofcomms