Innocent Ike has been officially appointed as the substantive Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) of Access Holdings, effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval. This appointment comes more than a year after the tragic death of former CEO Herbert Wigwe in a plane crash in February 2024.
Ike succeeds Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who served as Acting GMD/CEO for the past 18 months and will return to her role as Executive Director, Business Support. Agbede was widely commended for navigating the company through a critical period, including overseeing a successful N351 billion rights issue and maintaining operational stability.
With over 30 years of experience in banking and financial services, Innocent Ike brings a solid background, having held various senior positions, including Managing Director of Polaris Bank where he launched the award-winning digital banking platform VULTe. He expressed honor in assuming the role and intention to build on the strong legacy of his predecessors.
The appointment marks a new chapter for Access Holdings under Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede’s leadership as the company pursues international expansion and aims to become the most respected African bank worldwide.