Dr. Hene Aku Kwapong
FOUNDER, NBOSI, MANAGING PARTNER, THE SONGHAI GROUP
A distinguished corporate development expert, governance scholar and founder with a career spanning global finance, technology and economic development — from the roads of West Africa to the Ivy League institutions and corporate corridors of the United States.
“Rooted in a deep connection to Ghana — from the Dunkwah courts of Boampensem to the vibrant streets of Ashanti New Town — he firmly believes that the individual is the true engine of national transformation, and that unlocking human potential at the grassroots level is the foundation for building a prosperous and modern state.”
ON HIS FOUNDING CONVICTION
BIOGRAPHY
Dr. Hene Aku Kwapong was born in Elmina, a Ghanaian village known for its significant role in transatlantic history. His journey has taken him from West Africa to MIT, Columbia University and the highest levels of global finance and technology.
His corporate career spans leadership positions at some of the world’s most influential financial and technology institutions. He served as Vice President at Deutsche Bank Securities, Senior Manager at Microsoft Corporation, Vice President at GE Capital, and Chief Operating Officer for EMEA Credit at NatWest Group (formerly Royal Bank of Scotland).
His commitment to public service is evidenced by his tenure as Senior Vice President at the New York City Economic Development Corporation under Mayor Michael Bloomberg, where he was instrumental in funding and structuring major development initiatives across New York City — including initiatives linked to New York Fashion Week and the city’s positioning as a global commercial hub.
As Managing Partner of The Songhai Group, he advises financial institutions and governments on risk management, banking reform and economic development, including work with Development Bank Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission Ghana. He also founded The Practice School, a specialised management programme dedicated to cultivating the next generation of senior leadership for African companies.
He began his career at ExxonMobil as a researcher in Control Systems and Artificial Intelligence in Florham Park, New Jersey — a technical foundation that has informed his leadership across industries ever since.
BOARD POSITIONS
Ecobank Ghana Plc
Independent Non-Executive Director · since 2017
Park Street A/S
Independent Non-Executive Director · since 2017
Pulse Taastrup P/S
Director · since 2021
Pulse Glostrup P/S
Director
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS
PhD — Artificial Intelligence Modelling & Risk Control
Columbia University, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
MBA
MIT Sloan School of Management
Undergraduate degree
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Secondary education
Prempeh College, Ghana
CAREER TIMELINE
| ExxonMobil | Researcher — Control Systems & AI Florham Park, New Jersey |
| GE Capital | Vice President |
| Deutsche Bank Securities | Vice President |
| Microsoft Corporation | Senior Manager Global commercial strategy & public sector positioning |
| NatWest Group / RBS | COO, EMEA Credit Royal Bank of Scotland |
| NYC Economic Development Corp. | Senior Vice President & Treasurer Under Mayor Michael Bloomberg |
| The Songhai Group | Founder & Managing Partner Corporate development · Africa focus |
| NBOSI | Founder & Managing Partner National Blue Ocean Strategy Institute |
AFFILIATIONS
CDD Ghana
Fellow · Ghana Centre for Democratic Development
Governance & constitutional reform
Securities & Exchange Commission Ghana
Advisory role
Development Bank Ghana
Advisory role