Access Holdings appoints Innocent Ike as Group CEO
Access Holdings Plc has appointed Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO), effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval.
Niara Metrics reported that the appointment comes just hours after Roosevelt Ogbonna stepped down from the company’s board in line with new corporate governance rules.
“I am honoured to take on this role and excited to work alongside the talented team at Access Holdings,” Ike said.
“I look forward to building on the strong legacy established by Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, and driving our vision forward to deliver exceptional value to shareholders and stakeholders.”
Ike’s confirmation signals a new phase under the chairmanship of Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, who returned to lead the group after the passing of former Group CEO Herbert Wigwe in 2024.
Leadership changes have been gathering pace in recent months.
Earlier this year, Seyi Kumapayi, one of the group’s longest-serving directors, left the board.
More recently, Ogbonna, Managing Director of Access Bank, resigned from the HoldCo board to comply with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s 2023 corporate governance guidelines, which limit HoldCo boards to nine members.
Ike succeeds Bolaji Agbede, who has served as Acting GMD/CEO for the past 18 months.
She will return to her role as Executive Director, Business Support, in line with regulatory requirements on years of experience for the top position.
Agbede has been widely commended for guiding the company through one of its most challenging periods.
During her tenure, Access maintained workforce stability, completed a ₦351 billion rights issue, and successfully held two annual general meetings, milestones that helped steady the group following Wigwe’s sudden passing.
Commenting on the leadership transition, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, the Chairman of Access Holdings, said:
“We are delighted to welcome Mr Innocent Ike as Group CEO. At the same time, we extend our deepest appreciation to Ms Bolaji Agbede for her outstanding leadership over the past 18 months.
“Her contributions have been invaluable in navigating the company through challenges and opportunities. While regulatory requirements necessitate this change, she leaves behind a strong foundation for future growth.”
Ike brings over 30 years of experience in banking and financial services. A graduate of the University of Lagos in accounting, he is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), as well as a certified IFRS expert.
He spent a decade at Access Bank, rising to General Manager with responsibility for corporate, commercial, and public sector portfolios.
He later served as MD/CEO of Polaris Bank (2020–2022), where he launched VULTe, the bank’s award-winning digital banking platform.
Access Holdings was established in 2022 through a Scheme of Arrangement between Access Bank Plc and its shareholders.
Since then, the group has expanded into 17 markets across Africa and beyond, making it one of the continent’s most diversified financial services firms.
