The Chief Financial Officer of AXA Mansard, Ms Ngozi Ola-Israel, has clinched the CFO of the Year award of the prestigious Women Tabloid Awards, a platform designed to celebrate trailblazing women redefining success and challenging stereotypes across industries and geographies.
Ms Ola-Israel is one of the leading CFOs on the continent as she was recognised as one of the Top 50 CFOs in Africa in 2024
She thanked the organisers of the awards for the honour and going above and beyond to spotlight the incredible work and impact of women 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
“I am incredibly grateful for the people I work with. Their collaboration and dedication have shaped this journey, culminating in this award.
“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,” she enthused.
On her part, the Chief Client Officer of AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, Ms Rashidat Adebisi, said the recognition of her colleague is another testament to the remarkable role she and her team continue to play in the company’s success, despite the challenges of the dynamic operating environment.
“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 stated.
Ms Ola-Israel, a respected voice in the finance community, is a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council.
With over a decade of dedicated service at AXA Mansard, she began her journey as Group Head of Financial Control and rose to the position of CFO in 2017.
Under her leadership, the company surpassed its 2024 revenue targets by 32 per cent and recorded a nearly 50 per cent increase in share price.
She also served as Chief Data Officer from 2019 to 2024, leading enterprise-wide data transformation and strategy.
Her influence extends to board-level roles as a non-executive director at AXA Mansard Investments and APD, where she contributes to governance and performance oversight.
Ms Ola-Israel has led several transformative initiatives, including the development of KPI and premium financing dashboards, a car valuation model that improved claims integrity, a remote vehicle inspection tool, and a comprehensive value chain analysis that enhanced operational efficiency and customer experience.
Beyond finance, she is a passionate mentor and advocate for gender equity. She founded the Finance Community at AXA Mansard to promote continuous learning and mentor aspiring women board members through WIMBIZ. She also plays a key role in AXA Mansard’s sustainability agenda, embedding ESG strategies into operations and strategic planning.
She has spoken at major industry events, including the 2024 International Conference for Women in Insurance.