Governance expert and seasoned corporate executive, Funmi Ekundayo, has been appointed as the new President of the Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA), the leading global body representing governance professionals and corporate secretaries across four continents.

The announcement, made over the weekend on CSIA’s official website, marks a major milestone for Nigeria’s governance community and reinforces Ekundayo’s stature as one of the country’s foremost voices in corporate governance, law, and financial services.

Ekundayo currently serves as Group Managing Director of STL Capital Group, where she has spearheaded strategic transformations and strengthened the company’s position as a leading provider of trust and fiduciary services in Nigeria.

An alumna of Harvard Business School, Ekundayo also holds Bachelor and Master of Laws degrees from the University of Lagos and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), where she serves on the Governing Council. She recently completed her tenure as ICSAN President and Chairman of the Governing Council (2023–2025), becoming the first female to hold the position in the Institute’s 57-year history—a term noted for institutional reforms, capacity building, and enhanced visibility.

With over 29 years of professional experience, Ekundayo began her career in legal practice at Bentley, Edu & Co, before transitioning into financial services and capital markets. She later held senior roles at Sterling Asset Management & Trustees and United Capital Trustees, ultimately rising to MD/CEO and now Group Managing Director of STL Capital Group.

Her professional influence extends across multiple sectors. She is a Past President of the Association of Corporate Trustees of Nigeria and previously served as Honorary Treasurer and Vice President of CSIA. Additionally, she is a Fellow or Associate of numerous professional bodies, including the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Chartered Institute of Directors, Institute of Capital Market Registrars, Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), and the Association of Enterprise Risk Management Professionals.

Commenting on the appointment, STL Capital Group said, “We are pleased to share the exciting news that our MD/CEO has officially been announced as the new President of CSIA. Congratulations are in order as we celebrate this remarkable achievement.”

Ekundayo stated that she looks forward to collaborating with member institutes worldwide to strengthen corporate governance standards, expand professional capacity-building programs, and further position CSIA as a global voice for governance professionals.