Access Bank, one of Nigeria’s largest banks, has appointed a temporary replacement for CEO Herbert Wigwe, who died alongside five others in a helicopter crash last Friday.
Bolaji Agbede, Access Bank’s most senior founding executive director, will assume the CEO position in acting capacity, the bank’s parent company, Access Holdings Plc, announced in a statement.
Ms Agbede joined Access Bank in 2003 and has nearly 30 years of experience in banking and business consultancy, the company said.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos and a Master of Business Administration degree from Cranfield University, Agbede is also a member of esteemed professional bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.
Prior to her appointment as interim CEO, Agbede served as the bank’s most senior founding executive director in business support for two years, with a total of 21 years of service at Access Bank. Her tenure at the bank included notable roles such as assistant general manager overseeing the management of the bank’s portfolio of chemical trading companies, as well as a 12-year stint as the head of Group Human Resources.
Agbede’s professional expertise spans various domains, including human resources management, customer relationship management, and banking operations. She is recognized for her successful track record in managing people integration during mergers and acquisitions, driving culture transformation, and executing corporate strategies.
Bolaji Agbede’s appointment as acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings has shown the company’s commitment to continuity and stability in the face of unexpected challenges.
With her wealth of experience and leadership skills, Agbede is poised to guide Access Corporation through this transitional period, pending regulatory approvals from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
