Theresa Ayoade

Theresa Ayoade is a Ghanaian entertainment entrepreneur and the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Charterhouse, the production company behind many of Ghana's most prominent events, including the country's premier music awards. A pioneering figure in Africa's creative economy, she has built a reputation as one of the most influential women in Ghanaian entertainment and events management.

Ayoade's rise was anything but privileged. After returning from London she initially worked as a sales girl in Adabraka in Accra, following financial difficulties in her family that interrupted her education. From those humble beginnings she climbed the corporate ladder through the media industry, drawing on a talent for sales and marketing. She served as Sales and Marketing Manager at Luv FM in Kumasi and was later promoted to Promotions Manager at Joy FM, gaining valuable experience in broadcasting and brand promotion.

In 2000 she co-founded Charterhouse with her husband, Iyiola Ayoade. At the time she was working at Multimedia while also pursuing university studies, and she decided to leave full-time employment to help build the new company and gain the flexibility her studies required. That decision proved pivotal, as Charterhouse grew into a powerhouse of Ghanaian event production and a driving force in the professionalisation of the country's entertainment industry.

Under her leadership Charterhouse became synonymous with landmark productions. The company is best known for creating and staging the Ghana Music Awards, later branded as the Telecel Ghana Music Awards, which became the country's most prestigious celebration of musical achievement. Charterhouse also produced the Miss Malaika beauty pageant and comedy events such as A Night of a Thousand Laughs, establishing itself as the leading organiser of major cultural spectacles in Ghana and helping to shape the modern entertainment calendar.

Ayoade has continued to invest in her own development, resuming studies at Harvard Business School in 2025 and drawing on executive education from the Said Business School at the University of Oxford, reflecting a commitment to sharpening her leadership as her enterprise matures. As CEO of Charterhouse she remains a central figure in Ghana's creative industries, championing local talent and elevating the standards of event production. Her journey, from selling goods in Adabraka to leading one of the country's foremost entertainment companies, is widely cited as an inspiring example of enterprise and perseverance.