Access Bank, the largest bank in Nigeria by assets, has appointed Bolaji Agbede as the temporary CEO after the death of its co-founder and former chief executive, Herbert Wigwe. Wigwe died in a helicopter crash on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024.
“The appointment of Ms. Agbede is in alignment with our robust succession planning practices,” said Abubakar Jimoh, the chairman of the company. “We are strongly convinced that Ms Agbede, being the company’s most senior executive with exceptionally rich, professional and leadership experience and the understanding of the Access culture, would provide the much-needed leadership to steer the company towards the attainment of its strategic vision…”
The appointment of Agbede is pending approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria, according to a statement by Sunday Ekwochi, the company’s secretary.
Who is Bolaji Agbede?
Bolaji Agbede is a versatile professional with over 27 years’ experience in Human Resources management, customer relationship management and banking operations. Ms. Agbede has a proven record of successful people integration during mergers and acquisitions, culture transformation and execution of corporate strategies.
She began her professional career in Guaranty Trust Bank and served in various capacities including Relationship Manager and Vault Custodian. She diligently distinguished herself and swiftly rose from the grade of Executive Trainee in 1992 to Manager in 2001. Ms. Agbede subsequently served as the Chief Executive Officer of JKG limited in 2003 a business consulting outfit.
Bolaji Agbede joined Access Bank in 2003 as an Assistant General Manager and was responsible for managing the Bank’s portfolio of chemical trading companies. She has occupied the role of Head, HR for the Access Bank Group since 2010 wherein she oversees the human capital development of the Group.
Bolaji Agbede holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos (1990) and subsequently obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from Cranfield University in 2002. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management UK and Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria. She has attended several renowned leadership and professional development programs including the High-Performance Leadership Programme organised by the IMD and the Strategic Talent Management Programme organised by the London Business School.
