Access Bank PLC: 5 Things to Know About Access Holdings’ New CEO Appointment
Lagos, Nigeria — Access Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective August 29, 2025, following approval from regulators. His appointment concludes an 18-month interim period under Bolaji Agbede.
Here are five key highlights about the leadership transition:
1. Regulatory Mandate Drives Change
The Central Bank of Nigeria’s corporate governance rules mandate specific experience levels for leadership in financial holding companies. Compliance with these guidelines prompted the shift from an interim to a permanent CEO.
2. Agbede’s Stewardship Recognized
Bolaji Agbede, who served as Acting Group CEO, will return to her substantive role as Executive Director, Business Support. During her tenure, she:
- Orchestrated a successful ₦351 billion rights issue,
- Ensured workforce stability amid leadership transition after the passing of Herbert Wigwe,
- Seamlessly hosted two annual general meetings.
Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede publicly praised her “outstanding contributions,” noting the solid foundation she established for future growth.
3. Meet the New CEO: Innocent Ike
With over 30 years of experience, Innocent Ike brings deep expertise in corporate, commercial, and public sector banking. He holds a First-Class degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos and is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), as well as a Certified IFRS expert.
4. A Track Record of Innovation
Ike previously served as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank (2020–2022), where he launched VULTe, a digital banking platform that earned accolades like Digital Bank of the Year from BusinessDay and the Nigerian Fintech Awards in both 2021 and 2022
5. Strengthening the Vision Ahead
In his first official remarks as Group CEO, Ike expressed his commitment to building upon the legacies of Herbert Wigwe and Agbede. He aims to drive growth, uphold strategic momentum, and deliver exceptional value to shareholders and stakeholders alike.
Read more: Access Bank PLC: 5 Things to Know About Access Holdings’ New CEO Appointment
One thought on “Access Bank PLC: 5 Things to Know About Access Holdings’ New CEO Appointment”