By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos
Following the unfortunate demise of its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, the Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Ms. Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer.
According to the statement signed by the Company, the appointment of Agbede is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the company had announced that the former Chief Executive Officer and Group Managing Director of its flagship subsidiary, Access Bank Plc alongside his wife and son were involved in an helicopter crash in the United States of America which took their lives on Friday, February 9, 2024.
With a wealth of experience spanning nearly three decades in the banking and business consultancy sectors, Ms. Agbede was a natural choice for the role of Acting Group Chief Executive Officer. Her journey began in 1992 at Guaranty Trust Bank, where she honed her skills and rose through the ranks to become a respected Manager within the Commercial Banking and Operations functions.
Driven by a passion for business consultancy, Ms. Agbede ventured into entrepreneurship, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of JKG Limited in 2003.
However, her path eventually led her back to the banking sector, where she joined Access Bank Plc in 2003 as an Assistant General Manager.
Ms. Agbede’s tenure at Access Bank was marked by notable achievements, including her role in managing the Bank’s portfolio of chemical trading companies and her impactful leadership as the Head of Group Human Resources from 2010 to 2022. Her dedication and expertise culminated in her appointment as the Company’s founding Executive Director of Business Support in 2022.
Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos and a Masters of Business Administration Degree from Cranfield University UK, Ms. Agbede’s academic credentials are complemented by her professional affiliations with esteemed institutions such as the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.
Ms. Agbede’s journey to leadership was paved with opportunities for growth and development, including participation in renowned leadership and professional development programs such as the High-Performance Leadership Programme organized by the IMD and the Strategic Talent Management Programme hosted by the London Business School.
As Ms. Agbede steps into her new role, she brings with her a vision of innovation, collaboration, and growth for Access Holdings Plc. With her leadership at the helm, the company is poised to navigate the challenges ahead and chart a course towards continued success and prosperity.
