Access Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) following the untimely death of its former Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe. The announcement comes after Mr. Wigwe, along with his wife, son, and a former chairman of the Nigeria Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo, tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash in the United States.
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In a statement released on Monday, the company expressed deep sorrow over the loss of Dr. Herbert Wigwe and extended its condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. The Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc affirmed the appointment of Ms. Bolaji Agbede, citing her extensive professional background spanning nearly three decades in banking and business consultancy services.
Ms. Agbede’s journey with Access Bank began in 2003 when she joined as an Assistant General. Over the years, she held various positions within the bank, including Head of Group Human Resources from 2010 to 2022. In 2022, she was appointed as the company’s founding Executive Director, Business Support, a position she held until her recent appointment as Acting Group CEO.
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Educationally, Bolaji Agbede 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 in 2002. She is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.
However, the appointment is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria, indicating the necessary regulatory steps to finalize the transition. Abubakar Jimoh, the chairman of the company, expressed confidence in Ms. Agbede’s capabilities, highlighting her seniority within the organization and her profound understanding of the Access culture.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, but we believe that Ms. Agbede’s appointment aligns with our robust succession planning practices. Her wealth of experience and leadership qualities make her the ideal candidate to lead Access Holdings Plc during this challenging time,” stated Abubakar Jimoh.
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The company reaffirmed its commitment to fulfilling its strategic vision of building a globally connected community and ecosystem, inspired by Africa for the world, under Ms. Agbede’s leadership.
The sudden loss of Dr. Herbert Wigwe has undoubtedly left a void within Access Holdings Plc, but the appointment of Bolaji Agbede signals a new chapter for the company as it navigates through this period of transition and continues to pursue its ambitious goals.