Bright Darko: Zenith’s Digital CFO Redefining Financial Leadership
Leadership in Transition
In a financial ecosystem increasingly dominated by algorithms, automation, and cross-border complexities, few executives have embraced change as strategically as Bright Darko, the Chief Financial Officer of Zenith Bank Ghana. Since assuming the role in January 2025, Darko has led a digital transformation project internally dubbed “ZenShift.”
This multi-phase overhaul is not merely about modernizing infrastructure—it’s about rethinking the role of finance in driving competitive advantage. From the adoption of AI-powered financial forecasting engines to the development of a real-time compliance dashboard that integrates directly with Ghana’s central banking protocols, Darko’s finance team has evolved into a command center of decision-making.
In an exclusive interview, he stated: “Traditional CFOs were gatekeepers. Today’s CFOs must be architects of change, partnering with technology to anticipate challenges before they appear on the ledger.”
Key Metrics and Milestones
- 45% Faster Financial Reporting: By integrating cloud-based consolidation tools and robotic process automation (RPA), Zenith has slashed its month-end close from 8 days to just 4.4 days—positionin
ong>“ZenShift.”
This multi-phase overhaul is not merely about modernizing infrastructure—it’s about rethinking the role of finance in driving competitive advantage. From the adoption of AI-powered financial forecasting engines to the development of a real-time compliance dashboard that integrates directly with Ghana’s central banking protocols, Darko’s finance team has evolved into a command center of decision-making.
In an exclusive interview, he stated: “Traditional CFOs were gatekeepers. Today’s CFOs must be architects of change, partnering with technology to anticipate challenges before they appear on the ledger.”
Key Metrics and Milestones
- 45% Faster Financial Reporting: By integrating cloud-based consolidation tools and robotic process automation (RPA), Zenith has slashed its month-end close from 8 days to just 4.4 days—positioning itself among the top five most agile financial institutions in West Africa.
- Liquidity Resilience: During a period of FX volatility and monetary tightening, Darko fortified the bank’s liquidity position with a buffer of GHS 1.5 billion. This was achieved through predictive cash modeling, which optimized reserve requirements without impairing daily operations.
- AfCFTA Readiness: Through blockchain-linked smart contracts, the bank is now able to automate cross-border settlements across six African countries. This positions Zenith as a financial enabler for businesses engaging with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which continues to expand intra-African commerce.
In parallel, the finance department now operates as a digital hub, offering real-time insights to sales, risk, and investor relations teams. This has led to better alignment on product pricing, capital deployment, and regulatory disclosures.
Vision for a Digital Finance Culture
Beyond KPIs and dashboards, Bright Darko is passionate about cultivating talent that thrives in an AI-enhanced workplace. He has rolled out a new “Digital Finance Academy” for internal staff, offering courses in data analytics, regulatory tech (RegTech), and agile methodology.
“Finance has to evolve from being retrospective to becoming predictive. We’re building a CFO function that is deeply connected to customer needs, macro risks, and strategic foresight,” Darko emphasized during a fintech roundtable in Accra last month.
With Darko’s leadership, Zenith Bank’s finance department is no longer just balancing the books—it’s shaping the narrative of a bank that’s future-ready, borderless, and digitally intelligent.
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#CFO
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