Bolaji Agbede is the new Acting CEO of Access Holdings

iexclusivenews – Access Holdings Plc, one of the leading financial services providers in Nigeria, has appointed Ms. Bolaji Agbede as its Acting Group Chief Executive Officer.

This comes after the tragic death of its former CEO, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, who was killed in a helicopter crash last week.

A Tragic Loss for the Company and the Nation

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Dr. Wigwe, who had been the CEO of Access Holdings since 2010, was a visionary leader who transformed the company into a diversified conglomerate with interests in banking, insurance, asset management, and telecommunications.

He was also a respected figure in the Nigerian business community and a philanthropist who supported various social causes.

On Friday, February 9, 2024, Dr. Wigwe and his family were traveling in a private helicopter from Lagos to Abuja, when the aircraft crashed near the Benin City airport.

All four passengers on board, including Dr. Wigwe, his wife, his son, and a former chairman of the Nigeria Exchange Group, Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, died in the accident. The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

The news of Dr. Wigwe’s death shocked and saddened the entire nation, as well as the international community.

Many tributes and condolences poured in from various quarters, including the President of Nigeria, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the Chairman of the African Union, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

A Smooth Transition of Leadership

In the wake of this tragedy, the Board of Directors of Access Holdings acted swiftly to ensure the continuity and stability of the company.

On Monday, February 12, 2024, the Board announced that Ms. Bolaji Agbede would take over as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, pending the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Ms. Agbede is a seasoned professional with nearly 30 years of experience in the banking and consulting sectors.

She joined Access Bank, a subsidiary of Access Holdings, in 2003 as an Assistant General Manager.

Ms. Agbede rose through the ranks and held various positions, such as the Head of Group Human Resources from 2010 to 2022.

In 2022, she became the founding Executive Director of Business Support, a role that she held until her new appointment.

Ms. Agbede has a strong academic background, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Cranfield University UK in 2002.

She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.

A Bright Future for Access Holdings

Ms. Agbede has expressed her gratitude to the Board for the confidence and trust placed in her.

She has also pledged to uphold the legacy of Dr. Wigwe and to lead Access Holdings to greater heights of excellence and innovation.

Access Holdings is confident that Ms. Agbede has the skills, experience, and vision to steer the company forward in these challenging times.

The company also assures its stakeholders, customers, partners, and employees of its commitment to delivering value and quality services across all its businesses.

Access Holdings is a leading financial services group in Nigeria, with a market capitalization of over N1 trillion.

The group operates in four core segments: banking, insurance, asset management, and telecommunications.

The group has over 20 million customers and employs over 15,000 people across Nigeria and Africa.