Access Holdings Plc has named Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the holding company, following the tragic passing of its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, in a recent helicopter crash in the United States.
In a statement released on Monday, the company expressed its condolences and announced Agbede’s appointment, emphasizing her extensive experience in banking and business consultancy spanning nearly three decades.
“Further to its announcement dated February 11, 2024, the Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) has today announced the appointment of Ms Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company following the unfortunate demise of its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Herbert Wigwe, on February 9, 2024,” the company’s statement noted.
Agbede previously held various key positions at Access Bank, including Head of Group Human Resources and founding Executive Director of Business Support.
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 UK, and is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.
The appointment, pending approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria, is seen as a strategic move aligned with Access Holdings’ succession planning practices.
Abubakar Jimoh, Chairman of the company, expressed confidence in Agbede’s ability to lead, citing her profound understanding of the Access culture and her track record of professional and leadership excellence.
In his words, “We are strongly convinced that Ms Agbede, being the company’s most senior executive, with exceptionally rich, professional and leadership experience and understanding of the Access culture, would provide the much-needed leadership to steer the company towards the attainment of its strategic vision of building a globally connected community and ecosystem, inspired by Africa for the world.”
