Ngozi Ola-Israel Honoured for Outstanding CFO Leadership
AXA Mansard’s Chief Financial Officer, Ngozi Ola-Israel, has received top recognition at the Women Tabloid Awards for her role in driving financial growth, innovation, and inclusive leadership within the insurance sector.
The Women Tabloid Awards spotlight women who are reshaping industries and challenging long-standing norms.
Ola-Israel’s accolade, announced this week, reflects her decade-long contributions to AXA Mansard, where she rose from Group Head of Financial Control to CFO in 2017.
Chief Client Officer of AXA Mansard, Rashidat Adebisi, described the award as a well-earned milestone. “On behalf of the board and management, I congratulate our dear CFO. This is a well-deserved recognition.
Under her leadership, we have achieved sustained financial growth, strengthened our market positioning, and enhanced corporate governance. Her visionary leadership was instrumental in the successful implementation of IFRS 17, reinforcing our commitment to transparency and global best practices,” she said.
Reacting to the honour, Ola-Israel commended the organisers for recognising women’s impact across sectors. “My emergence as the 2025 CFO of the Year is further proof of AXA’s commitment to inclusive protection and to creating an environment where people are empowered to care and dare,” she said.
“Recognition like this only happens when you’re surrounded by people who challenge you to be your best and support you through it all. This honour will fuel my resolve to continue giving my best, mentoring others, and creating opportunities that elevate women, the finance profession, and impactful leadership.”
Under her leadership, AXA Mansard outperformed its 2024 revenue target by 32 per cent and recorded a near 50 per cent rise in share price. She has also led digital transformation projects, from premium financing dashboards and remote inspection tools to value chain analyses that improved efficiency and customer service.
Outside the boardroom, Ola-Israel is a mentor and advocate for gender equity, heading the Finance Community at AXA Mansard and guiding aspiring women board members through WIMBIZ. She has been listed among Africa’s Top 50 CFOs and serves on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council.
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