The Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS) has announced the election of Fiona Ahmed Ahimie, Managing Director, First Securities Brokers Limited, a subsidiary of FirstHoldCo Plc., as its 14th President, making her the first woman to be elected President and Chairman of Council in the Institute’s history.

Her emergence is more than a leadership change; it is a defining milestone that signals the rising influence of women at the highest levels of Nigeria’s financial services industry and underscores the evolving face of capital market leadership.

With close to two decades of distinguished experience spanning stockbroking, investment banking, private equity, real estate, wealth management and business development, Fiona brings deep market insight, global exposure and a proven track record of delivering growth and market impact.

She began her career at one of Nigeria’s prominent Stockbroking firms, where she built a solid foundation in capital market operations and foreign investor deal flows. She later joined FBN Capital (now FirstCap) as Head of Sales Trading, playing a pivotal role in managing both international and domestic institutional deal flows. In 2015, she was appointed Managing Director of African Alliance Securities Nigeria, where she drove significant expansion in market share, client base, and cross-border transactions.

Since joining First Securities Brokers Limited in 2016, she has led a remarkable transformational growth, positioning the firm among Nigeria’s top-tier brokerage houses by 2018 through enhanced execution capabilities and increased global investor participation.

Beyond executive management, Fiona has held several board and board committee roles and currently serves on the boards of First Funds (the private equity arm of FirstHoldCo Group), NGX Real Estate Limited (a subsidiary of NGX Group), Japtini Logistics, and Awabaah (a micro- pensions business). She is also a member of the Statutory Audit Committee of the Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS).

An advocate of continuous learning and thought leadership, Fiona has received executive education from MIT Sloan School of Management (USA), IESE Business School (Spain), and INSEAD (France). She is a Doctorate candidate at Afe Babalola University Business School. Her professional affiliations include being a Chartered Stockbroker, Chartered Accountant, and Chartered Director, she is also an Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, she also serves on the Curriculum Review Committee of Lagos Business School and has been a mentor on the WIMBIZ Women on Boards Programme for four consecutive years.

Beyond corporate leadership, Fiona is deeply committed to philanthropy, supporting multiple institutions and sponsoring the education of young people reflecting her passion for inclusive growth and generational impact.

Her leadership philosophy is guided by enduring principles, excellence in execution, a refusal to settle for mediocrity, and an unwavering commitment to integrity and fairness.

Fiona’s presidency comes at a pivotal time for Nigeria’s capital market, as it navigates increased global integration, regulatory evolution, and rapid digital innovation. As President, she is poised to advance strategic priorities, including deepening the market, strengthening professional standards, enhancing investor confidence, and nurturing the next generation of capital market professionals.

Fiona will assume office on April 30, 2026, with her formal investiture scheduled for June 25, 2026, where key stakeholders across Nigeria’s financial ecosystem are expected to gather to mark this historic leadership transition.