Access Holding picks Bolaji Agbede as acting CEO following Hebert Wigwe’s demise

Access Bank, the largest bank in Nigeria by assets, has appointed Bolaji Agbede as the temporary CEO after the death of its co-founder and former chief executive, Herbert Wigwe. Wigwe died in a helicopter crash on Friday, Feb. 9, 2024.

"The appointment of Ms. Agbede is in alignment with our robust succession planning practices," said Abubakar Jimoh, the chairman of the company. "We are strongly convinced that Ms Agbede, being the company's most senior executive with exceptionally rich, professional and leadership experience and the understanding of the Access culture, would provide the much-needed leadership to steer the company towards the attainment of its strategic vision..."

The appointment of Agbede is pending approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria, according to a statement by Sunday Ekwochi, the company's secretary.

Ms. Agbede started at Access Bank in 2003 as an Assistant General Manager, overseeing the Bank’s chemical trading companies. From 2010 to 2022, she served as the Head of HR for the Access Holdings Group, focusing on human capital development. In 2022, she became the founding executive director for business support, a position she held until this appointment.

She earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Lagos in 1990, followed by a Master of Business Administration degree from Cranfield University in 2002. Ms. Agbede is a member of both the Chartered Institute of Management UK and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria. She has participated in various distinguished leadership and professional development programs, including the High-Performance Leadership Programme by IMD and the Strategic Talent Management Programme by the London Business School.

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