Access Holdings Plc (“Access Holdco” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Innocent Ike as the substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective August 29, 2025, following receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.
Mr. Ike succeeds Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has served as Acting GMD/CEO for the past 18 months, providing exemplary leadership and guiding the Company through a period of transition. In line with regulatory requirements regarding years of experience for the role of a Financial Holding Company’s Managing Director, Ms. Agbede will return to her substantive position as Executive Director, Business Support.
Recognition of Ms. Bolaji Agbede’s Contributions
During her stewardship, Access Holdco achieved significant milestones, including:
Ensuring workforce stability and operational continuity following the sudden demise of the former Group Chief Executive Officer.
Successfully executing the Company’s ₦351 billion Rights Issue.
Seamlessly hosting two Annual General Meetings (AGMs).
Her leadership preserved momentum, strengthened governance, and reinforced the Company’s competitive edge in the financial services sector.
Commenting on the leadership transition, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, Chairman of Access Holdings, stated:
“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Innocent Ike to this role as we look ahead to a new phase of growth. At the same time, we express profound appreciation to Ms. Bolaji Agbede for her remarkable service. Her commitment and leadership have been instrumental in sustaining performance during a challenging period, and the foundation she laid will continue to benefit the Company.”
Profile of Mr. Innocent Ike
Mr. Ike is a distinguished banker with more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Accounting from the University of Lagos, where he graduated as Best Graduating Student in 1988. 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.
His career includes over a decade at Access Bank, where he rose to the level of General Manager, managing portfolios across corporate, commercial, and public sector banking. Most recently, he served as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank (2020–2022), during which he launched the award-winning digital banking platform, VULTe. Under his leadership, Polaris Bank won the BusinessDay BAFI Digital Bank of the Year Award (2021) and the Nigerian Fintech Digital Bank of the Year Award (2022).
Speaking on his appointment, Mr. Ike said:
“I am deeply honoured to assume the role of Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer. I look forward to working with our exceptional team to build on the legacies of Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, while advancing Access Holdings’ vision to create sustainable value for our shareholders, customers, and communities.”
Commitment to Sustainable Growth
Access Holdings remains committed to its ambition of becoming the World’s Most Respected African Financial Services Group. With Mr. Ike’s appointment, the Company is poised to consolidate its achievements and accelerate long-term growth.
