New leadership takes charge at General Bank of Cameroon
Banking executive Ezékiel Passam has been appointed as the new Chairman of the Board of Directors of the institution, formerly known as Société Générale Cameroun, now majority-owned by the Cameroonian State.
Banking leader Ezékiel Passam has been named Chairman of the Board of General Bank of Cameroon (GBC), formerly Société Générale Cameroun, following the State’s acquisition of majority control. Victor Noumoué, previously Deputy CEO, has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer.
State completes takeover of major Cameroonian bank
The new appointments formalize the Cameroonian government’s full control over the financial institution. The leadership team was approved during a board meeting held in Yaoundé on July 15, 2026.
New governance structure unveiled
The revamped leadership of General Bank of Cameroon consists of:
- Ezékiel Passam – Chairman of the Board of Directors; replaces Alain Malong in this role.
- Victor Noumoué – Chief Executive Officer; previously served as Deputy CEO. A graduate of HEC Paris, he built his career within the Société Générale group and took the helm after the French governance withdrawal, succeeding Senegalese executive Yeri Seck.
- Jean-Michel Ondo – Deputy CEO.
- Roland Firmin Same Dikongue – Deputy CEO.
Milestone in Cameroon’s financial independence
The restructuring follows the State’s acquisition of Société Générale’s 58.08% stake in the Cameroonian subsidiary on May 12, 2026, for 129 billion FCFA. This transaction increased the State’s ownership to 83.68% of the bank’s capital.
The institution now operates under the name General Bank of Cameroon (GBC), marking a new chapter in its history.