Access Holdings (‘Access Holdco’ ) announces the appointment of Mr. Innocent Ike as the substantive
Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Company, effective August
29, 2025, following the receipt of regulatory approval.
Mr. Ike will succeed Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has served as the Company’s Acting
Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer for the past 18 months and has
played a vital role in driving the Company’s performance. Due to regulatory stipulations
on the required years of experience for a Financial Holding Company’s Managing
Director, Ms. Agbede will revert to her substantive role as the Company’s Executive
Director, Business Support.
During Ms. Agbede’s tenure, Access Holdco achieved significant milestones, including
ensuring workforce stability and seamless transition following the demise of the former
Group Chief Executive Officer; successful execution of the Company’s N351 Billion
Rights Issue and seamless hosting of two Annual General Meetings of the Company.
Her leadership and strategic vision have not only maintained the Company’s
momentum but also strengthened its competitive position in the industry.
Commenting on the development, the Company’s Chairman, Mr. Aigboje Aig-
Imoukhuede, CFR said:
“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. Her outstanding
contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable, and we appreciate her
dedication in navigating the Company through challenges and opportunities. While
regulatory requirements necessitate this change, we are grateful for the strong
foundation that has been laid.”
Mr. Ike graduated from the University of Lagos with a BSc (Hons) in Accounting in
1988, receiving recognition as the Best Graduating Student. He is a Fellow of the
Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered
Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), and a Certified IFRS expert. He has over three
decades experience in banking and financial services, ten years of which were spent
at Access Bank, where he rose to General Manager, overseeing portfolios in
corporate, commercial, and public sectors.
He served as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Bank from 2020
to 2022, during which he launched VULTe, the bank’s digital banking platform, earning
several industry awards including the BusinessDay BAFI Digital Bank of the Year
Award and the Nigerian Fintech Digital Bank of the Year Award in 2021 and 2022,
respectively.
Speaking on the appointment, Mr. Ike said:
“I am honoured to take on the role of Group Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer
and excited to work alongside the talented team at Access Holdings. 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.”
Access Holdings remains committed to becoming the World’s Most Respected African
Financial Services Group, and with Innocent Ike at the helm, the Company is well-
positioned for sustained success and growth.
