Access Holdings Plc has officially appointed Innocent Ike as its new Group Managing Director/CEO.
The appointment, effective August 29, 2025, follows a period of significant leadership changes at the company.
The move comes after several key board members, including Seyi Kumapayi and Roosevelt Ogbonna, stepped down to comply with the Central Bank of Nigeria's (CBN) new corporate governance rules, which limit HoldCo boards to nine members.
These changes are part of a broader effort to strengthen governance and chart a clear path for the company in the post-Herbert Wigwe era, a vision now being spearheaded by Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede.
Ike brings more than 30 years of experience to the role, including a decade at Access Bank and a successful tenure as MD/CEO of Polaris Bank, where he launched the award-winning digital banking platform, VULTe.
He succeeds Bolaji Agbede, who served as Acting GMD/CEO for the past 18 months and will now resume her previous role. Agbede's interim leadership was crucial in steadying the company after the sudden passing of Herbert Wigwe in 2024.
She is credited with maintaining workforce stability and successfully completing a N351 billion rights issue, earning praise from Chairman Aig-Imoukhuede for her “invaluable” contributions.