ACCESS HOLDINGS PLC CONFIRMS APPOINTMENT OF INNOCENT IKE AS GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Access Holdings has announced the appointment of Innocent Ike as the substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective August 29, 2025, following receipt of regulatory approval
According to Sunday Ekwochi, Company Secretary of Access Holdings, Ike will take over as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer from Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has acted in the role for 18 months and played a crucial part in the Company’s success. As regulatory requirements dictate specific years of experience for a Financial Holding Company’s Managing Director, Ms. Agbede will return to her original role as Executive Director, Business Support.
Ekwochi said ” During Ms. Agbede’s tenure, Access Holdco achieved significant milestones, including ensuring workforce stability and seamless transition following the demise of the former Group Chief Executive Officer; successful execution of the Company’s N351 Billion Rights Issue and seamless hosting of two Annual General Meetings of the Company.
Her leadership and strategic vision have not only maintained the Company’s momentum but also strengthened its competitive position in the industry.”
In response to the development, the Company’s Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, remarked:“We are thrilled to welcome Mr. Innocent Ike as we move forward. At the same time, we want to express our deepest gratitude to Ms. Bolaji Agbede. Her outstanding
contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable, and we appreciate her
dedication in navigating the Company through challenges and opportunities. While regulatory requirements necessitate this change, we are grateful for the strong foundation that has been laid.”
Ike obtained a BSc (Hons) in Accounting from the University of Lagos in 1988 and was recognized as the Best Graduating Student. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and a Certified IFRS expert. With over three decades of experience in banking and financial services, Ike spent ten years at Access Bank, rising to General Manager and overseeing portfolios in corporate, commercial, and public sectors. As Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank from 2020 to 2022, he launched VULTe, the bank’s digital banking platform, and received several industry awards, including the BusinessDay BAFI Digital Bank of the Year Award and the Nigerian Fintech Digital Bank of the Year Award in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Reacting to his new appointment,Ike remarked: he is honoured to assume the role of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and excited to work closely with the talented team at Access Holdings
” I look forward to building on the strong legacy established by Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, and driving our vision forward, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders and stakeholders.”
Access Holdings remains dedicated to becoming the World’s Most Respected African Financial Services Group, and with Innocent Ike at the helm, the Company is well-equipped for sustained success and growth.
