Access Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval. The decision marks a new chapter for the holding company while also recognizing the impactful leadership of Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has served as Acting Group CEO for the past 18 months.
It is also coming a couple of hours after the resignation of Roosevelt Ogbonna, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank Plc, who has stepped down from his position as a non-executive director at its parent company, Access Holdings Plc.
Transition and Recognition
Mr. Ike’s appointment comes as part of a structured leadership transition following the sudden passing of Access Holdings’ former Group CEO last year. During that period, Ms. Agbede stepped in as Acting Group CEO, steering the company through a period of uncertainty with notable success.
Under her watch, Access Holdings maintained workforce stability, executed a ₦351 billion Rights Issue, and hosted two seamless Annual General Meetings. Her efforts ensured business continuity and safeguarded investor confidence. Due to regulatory stipulations on years of experience required to lead a financial holding company, Ms. Agbede will now return to her substantive role as Executive Director, Business Support.
Chairman of Access Holdings, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, CFR, commended her contributions: “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.”
Innocent Ike: A Seasoned Banker
Mr. Ike, who assumes the helm of the pan-African financial powerhouse, brings over 30 years of experience in banking and financial services. A graduate of the University of Lagos, where he was recognized as the Best Graduating Student in Accounting in 1988, Ike has since built a distinguished career.
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 International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) expert.
Within Access Bank, Mr. Ike served for a decade, rising to the position of General Manager, where he managed portfolios spanning corporate, commercial, and public sectors. His extensive expertise, both within and outside the Access ecosystem, positions him to drive the next phase of growth for the holding company.
Strategic Outlook
The leadership change signals continuity and renewal for Access Holdings. With operations spanning multiple markets and a growing footprint across Africa, the group faces both opportunities and challenges in navigating a competitive financial landscape.
Industry analysts expect Mr. Ike to deepen Access Holdings’ transformation agenda, leveraging his technical expertise and leadership experience to strengthen profitability, enhance operational efficiency, and expand regional influence.
For shareholders and stakeholders, the appointment provides clarity and stability at a critical moment. Access Holdings, already one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, is now positioned to reinforce its ambitions of becoming a top-tier African financial services group.
