College of Business alumnus leads African banking group

Alain Honliasso of Lome, Togo, a 1995 MBA graduate, is marketing director of Ecobank, an African banking company serving 20 countries in West and Central Africa. The company is the leading independent regional banking group in West and Central Africa serving wholesale and retail customers.

In his role, Honliasso applies principles he learned at the College of Business. “I learned how to succeed in business today,” said Honliasso. “I was taught the importance of watching and reading business news, learning from other’s experiences, especially from their mistakes and managing multicultural teams.”

Honliasso singled out Academic Adviser Joe Pineau. “Joe was the cornerstone of the whole MBA program, from day one to graduation. He was especially helpful to us, foreign students, who were a bit lost at an American graduate school. I am not sure I would have made it without Joe,” he said.