By Uche Amunike
Following the death of its Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Herbert Wigwe, Access Holdings PLC, has, Monday, announced the appointment of Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of the holding company.
Recall that the late GCEO died in a helicopter crash alongside his wife, son and former chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Abimbola Ogunbanjo in California, near the Nevada border in Yeah the United States of America.
A statement released by the company’s Board of Directors and dated February 12, 2024, explained that the appointment was subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
It partly read: ‘Further to its announcement dated February 11, 2024, the Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) has today announced the appointment of Ms Bolaji Agbede as the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company following the unfortunate demise of its former Group Chief Executive Officer, Dr Herbert Wigwe, on February 9, 2024.’
Until her recent appointment as Acting CEO, Bolaji Agbede was the company’s most senior founding Executive Director in charge of business support. According to the statement, she has acquired three decades of professional experience cutting across banking and business consultancy services.
It further stated: ‘Ms. Agbede commenced her professional career in 1992 at Guaranty Trust Bank and served in various capacities within the Commercial Banking and Operations functions rising to the position of Manager in 2001. She subsequently served as the Chief Executive Officer of JKG Limited, a business consulting outfit in 2003.’
‘Ms. Agbede joined Access Bank Plc (‘the Bank’) in 2003 as an Assistant General Manager and was responsible for managing the Bank’s portfolio of chemical trading companies. She served as the Bank’s Head, Group Human Resources between 2010 and 2022 and was appointed the Company’s founding Executive Director, Business Support in 2022.’
‘She has a track record in successful people integration in business combination and culture transformation.
‘She holds a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos (1990) and a Master of Business Administration Degree from Cranfield University UK in 2002. She is a member of the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.’
‘Ms. Agbede has attended several renowned leadership and professional development programmes including the High-Performance Leadership Programme organised by the IMD and the Strategic Talent Management Programme organised by the London Business School’, it read
Meanwhile, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has said that a preliminary report on the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of the Nwigwes and the other occupants of the ill-fated aircraft on Friday, will be released in four weeks.
Speaking, during a press briefing a board member at the NTSB Michael Graham, assured that the preliminary reports would provide initial insights into the circumstances surrounding the air crash that claimed the lives of all six occupants.
His words: ‘This would be NTSB’s last on-scene press briefing. The unseen portion of the investigation will continue until completed.’
‘As a reminder, a preliminary report of the accident is expected within 30 days, and the full NTSB investigation lasts 12 to 24 months before the final report is issued. Any additional information about the status of the investigation will come from the NTSB headquarters in Washington DC.
