In a significant boardroom reshuffle, Access Holdings Plc has officially announced the appointment of Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede as its Non-Executive Chairman. This strategic move follows the resignation of Abubakar Jimoh, who will now continue his tenure with the company as an Independent Non-Executive Director. Access Holdings, commonly known as Holdco, made this announcement on March 14, 2024, marking a pivotal chapter in the company’s leadership transition.
Aig-Imoukhuede, a revered figure in the Nigerian banking sector, returns to a leadership position within the Access Bank sphere after a decade. His appointment comes on the heels of the tragic loss of Herbert Wigwe, the Group’s former Chief Executive Officer, who perished in a helicopter crash in the United States in February 2024, alongside his family. This tragedy prompted a reevaluation of leadership roles within the company, leading to the appointment of Ms. Bolaji Agbede as the new Group Chief Executive Officer shortly after.
Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede is renowned not only for his banking expertise but also for his contributions to various sectors through the Tengen Family Office. His leadership at Access Bank from 2002 transformed the institution from a modest entity into a dominant player in the African banking landscape, with expansions into nine other African countries and the United Kingdom. His advocacy for sustainable banking practices and his role in the voluntary adoption of the Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principles in 2012 have been instrumental in promoting responsible banking in Nigeria.
Furthermore, Aig-Imoukhuede’s diverse portfolio extends beyond banking, encompassing significant investments in finance, insurance, technology, real estate, and energy. His retirement from the CEO position in 2013 did not mark an end to his influence; instead, he founded the Coronation ecosystem, a unified financial services platform operating in Nigeria and Ghana.
His leadership extends to his role as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Financial Market Dealers Association (FMDA) and as the founding Chairman of the FMDQ Securities Exchange. Notably, his election as Council President of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2013 marked him as the first African to chair two national exchange platforms.
Aig-Imoukhuede’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to stabilize and steer Access Holdings through its next phase of growth and development, leveraging his vast experience and visionary leadership to foster innovation, sustainability, and expansion in the financial services sector.
