Access Holdings Plc Appoints Bolaji Agbede as Interim CEO After Herbert Wigwe’s Tragic Death

Access Holdings Plc, the umbrella company of Access Bank, made a swift decision to nominate Bolaji Agbede as the interim Chief Executive Officer following the tragic demise of Herbert Wigwe, the former CEO, and five others in a helicopter crash.

The appointment of Bolaji Agbede comes two days after the fatal accident and was deemed essential to maintain the operations and leadership of the company. Abubakar Jimoh, the chairman of Access Holdings, expressed confidence in Agbede’s ability to lead the company towards its strategic objectives in this challenging time.

The stock performance of Access Holdings saw a notable decline of 6.26% on Monday as news of Wigwe’s passing circulated, marking a somber period for the institution.

Bolaji Agbede’s appointment as the acting Group CEO is pending approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria, a regulatory step crucial for the company.

Agbede holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos and furthered her education with a Master of Business Administration from Cranfield University. She is affiliated with esteemed bodies such as the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.

Prior to her interim CEO role, Agbede had an extensive career at Access Bank, with her most recent position being the senior Executive Director overseeing Business Support. Over a span of 21 years at the bank, she has showcased expertise in human resources management, customer relations, and banking operations.

Agbede’s notable accomplishments include successfully handling people integration post-mergers, driving cultural transformations, and executing corporate strategies effectively. Her tenure as the Head of Group Human Resources at Access Bank for 12 years illuminated her leadership prowess.