Tony Elumelu Foundation Names Somachi Chris-Asoluka CEO

The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), a non-profit organisation in Africa, has appointed Somachi Chris-Asoluka as its new chief executive officer (CEO).

The foundation’s board of trustees made the announcement in a statement on Monday.

The appointment which takes effect from March 1, 2023, follows the retirement of Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, the current CEO of the organisation.

According to TEF, Chris-Asoluka joined the foundation in 2014 and served in various departments including head of research, head of policy and external relations, and most recently, as the director of partnerships and communications.

It said in the new role, Chris-Asoluka will leverage her expertise, experience and network to provide strategic leadership in consolidating and deepening the company’s work of transforming Africa through entrepreneurship.

Speaking on the appointment, Tony Elumelu, founder of TEF said: “This is an important time for the foundation and Africa. Our work is ever more important, and our platform is demonstrating our ability to truly catalyse change.”

“We are increasingly working with partners, to magnify our impact. Somachi’s experience in partnership development will be particularly relevant. Somachi, as director of partnerships and communications, has demonstrated strong leadership, commitment, and strategic thinking, in delivering the foundation’s mission to transform Africa. She is the perfect candidate to build on Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu’s impactful contribution.