AXA Mansard’s Ola-Israel Wins ‘CFO Of The Year’ Award

AXA Mansard’s chief financial officer, Ngozi Ola-Israel, has been named CFO of the Year by the prestigious Women Tabloid Awards.

The Women Tabloid Awards celebrate trailblazing women who are redefining success and challenging stereotypes across industries and geographies.

According to the chief client officer, AXA Mansard Insurance Plc, Rashidat Adebisi, the recognition of Ngozi 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,” Adebisi added.

Reacting to the award, Ola-Israel expressed her gratitude to Women Tabloid for the honour. She praised the organisers for 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,’ she said

“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,” he stated.

With over a decade of dedicated service at AXA Mansard, Ngozi Ola-Israel 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.

Ngozi 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.

Recognised as one of the Top 50 CFOs in Africa in 2024 and a member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, Ngozi is a respected voice in the finance community. She has spoken at major industry events, including the 2024 International Conference for Women in Insurance.