EY is advancing its restructuring in francophone sub-Saharan Africa, moving into an operational phase with the creation of two independent entities, ERITEDGE and ELYOS, and the appointment of their leadership teams. The transition began on July 1, 2025, and is expected to conclude on April 30, 2026.
“The creation of ERITEDGE and ELYOS goes beyond organizational change. It reflects our ambition for the region,” said Eric N’Guessan, Cluster Leader for EY francophone sub-Saharan Africa. “We are building two strong networks aligned with global best practices and grounded in African market realities.”
ERITEDGE to Focus on Audit and Financial Advisory
ERITEDGE will operate as a network dedicated to audit and financial advisory services.
The firm said the entity builds on more than 50 years of technical expertise and will provide integrated audit and financial advisory services across the region.
Arielle-Inès Séri Bamba, formerly head of audit and financial advisory for EY in francophone sub-Saharan Africa, has been appointed chief executive. She will implement the network’s strategy, oversee growth and manage operational performance.
The network will be governed by a board composed of country managing partners from nine countries. The board will be chaired by Erik Watremez, who has nearly 30 years of experience in the region, according to the firm.
ELYOS to Consolidate Consulting Activities
ELYOS will consolidate EY’s consulting operations in the region. While ERITEDGE will focus on audit and financial advisory, ELYOS will support companies and public institutions in areas including corporate strategy, technology transformation, risk management, transactions, tax, legal advisory, human resources and regulatory compliance.
N’Guessan, who currently leads the regional cluster and oversees strategy and internal transformation initiatives, will head ELYOS. The new consulting network plans to expand from nine to 16 countries within three years.
“The launch of ERITEDGE and ELYOS marks a significant shift in the consulting and audit sector in francophone sub-Saharan Africa,” the firm said. “By creating two independent pan-African networks, we aim to strengthen operational autonomy, improve decision-making agility and build African-led organizations operating under international governance and quality standards.”
EY said the restructuring is designed to adapt its business model to evolving African markets, amid rising investment flows, tighter regulatory requirements and accelerating corporate restructuring across the continent.
Amina Malloum
