Access Holdings appoints Innocent Ike as New Group CEO

Access Holdings Plc has named Mr. Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval. The announcement was made in a statement released Wednesday and signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi.

The appointment comes just hours after the resignation of Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna from the company’s board, in line with new corporate governance regulations issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Ike takes over from Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has served in an acting capacity since February 2024, following the tragic death of former Group CEO Herbert Wigwe.

Agbede will now return to her substantive role as Executive Director, Business Support.

Chairman of Access Holdings, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described the appointment as a significant milestone in the company’s growth trajectory.

“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,” he said.

“Her outstanding contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable. While regulatory requirements necessitate this change, we are grateful for the strong foundation that has been laid.”

During her interim leadership, Agbede guided the company through a period of stability and strategic progress, including a N351 billion rights issue, and the successful hosting of two Annual General Meetings (AGMs).

Innocent Ike brings over 30 years of experience in the banking and financial services sector.

A graduate of the University of Lagos, he was the Best Graduating Student in Accounting in 1988.

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He is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and is also a certified IFRS expert.

His previous roles include a decade-long tenure at Access Bank, where he rose to the rank of General Manager, and a successful stint as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank from 2020 to 2022. While at Polaris, Ike spearheaded the launch of VULTe, an award-winning digital banking platform.

“I am honoured to take on the role of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer,” Ike said.

“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.”

Industry analysts say Ike’s appointment is expected to bring strategic continuity and renewed momentum to Access Holdings, particularly in its ongoing digital transformation and pan-African expansion initiatives.