By Nonso Agbodi
Access Holdings Plc has confirmed the appointment of Mr. Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO), effective August 29, 2025, after receiving the necessary regulatory clearance.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, on Wednesday. It comes shortly after Roosevelt Ogbonna stepped down from the board in line with new corporate governance directives issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Ike takes over from Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has led the group in an acting capacity for the past 18 months, following the passing of the late Herbert Wigwe in 2024. With his confirmation, Agbede will resume her previous role as Executive Director, Business Support.
Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described Ike’s appointment as a defining step in the company’s journey.
“We are delighted to welcome Mr. Innocent Ike as our new Group Chief Executive. At the same time, we owe immense gratitude to Ms. Bolaji Agbede. Her leadership over the past 18 months has been outstanding, guiding the company through major challenges and opportunities. Though this transition was required by regulation, she has laid a strong foundation for continued growth,” Aig-Imoukhuede said.
Under Agbede’s stewardship, Access Holdings maintained stability within its workforce, successfully completed a ₦351 billion rights issue, and oversaw the smooth conduct of two annual general meetings.
In his acceptance remarks, Ike expressed both humility and optimism about the task ahead.
“I am deeply honoured to assume this role and to work with the exceptional team at Access Holdings. I look forward to building on the legacy of Herbert Wigwe and the achievements of Bolaji Agbede as we pursue our long-term vision of delivering sustainable value to shareholders and stakeholders,” he stated.
Ike brings more than three decades of banking and financial services experience to the role. A first-class graduate of Accounting from the University of Lagos and winner of the institution’s Best Graduating Student award in 1988, he is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and also a certified IFRS expert.
He previously worked with Access Bank for ten years, rising to the position of General Manager, and later served as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank from 2020 to 2022, where he oversaw the launch of VULTe, the bank’s multi-award-winning digital platform.
With Ike’s appointment, industry watchers say Access Holdings is entering a new phase of leadership aimed at consolidating its growth strategy, strengthening corporate governance, and expanding its footprint across Africa and beyond.
