Access Holdings Plc has appointed Mr. Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO), effective August 29, 2025, following the receipt of regulatory approval.
His appointment was announced shortly after Roosevelt Ogbonna stepped down from the company’s board in line with new corporate governance rules. The development marks another significant shift in the group’s leadership under the chairmanship of Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, who returned to the helm in 2024 after the passing of former Group CEO Herbert Wigwe.
Recent months have witnessed a series of changes at the top. Earlier this year, long-serving director Seyi Kumapayi left the board, while Ogbonna, the Managing Director of Access Bank, more recently 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. With Ike’s confirmation, Access Holdings’ leadership is settling into a new shape designed to strengthen governance, ensure regulatory compliance, and provide strategic direction for the group’s next phase.
Ike takes over from Bolaji Agbede, who had been Acting GMD/CEO for the past 18 months and now returns to her role as Executive Director, Business Support. Widely commended for her steady leadership during a difficult period, Agbede helped the group maintain workforce stability, execute a ₦351 billion rights issue, and successfully hold two annual general meetings following Wigwe’s sudden passing. Chairman Aig-Imoukhuede praised her contributions as invaluable in keeping the company on course during a period of transition.
Bringing over 30 years of experience in banking and financial services, Ike 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 specialist. A graduate of accounting from the University of Lagos, he spent a decade at Access Bank, rising to General Manager with responsibility for corporate, commercial, and public sector portfolios, before moving on to serve as CEO of Polaris Bank from 2020 to 2022, where he launched the award-winning VULTe digital platform.
“I am honoured to take on this responsibility and excited to work with the exceptional team at Access Holdings,” Ike said. “My focus is to build on the strong legacy of Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, while driving our vision to create long-term value for shareholders and stakeholders.”
The news of Ike’s appointment follows closely on the heels of Ogbonna’s resignation from the HoldCo board, a decision that drew attention in the banking industry. While his departure stirred speculation, sources indicated it was part of a collective board action to comply with governance rules rather than internal discord. His absence is still notable, given that Access Bank, which he continues to lead, contributes more than 90% of group revenues and 95% of its assets.
Access Holdings was created in 2022 through a Scheme of Arrangement between Access Bank Plc and its shareholders, and has since expanded to 17 markets across Africa and beyond. The latest leadership changes — from Kumapayi’s exit to Ogbonna’s resignation and now Ike’s appointment — signal a defining moment for the group as it balances continuity with regulatory requirements, expansion ambitions, and intensifying market competition.