By Ayomide Otitoju
Access Holdings Plc has appointed Mr. Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval.
The announcement, contained in a statement signed by the company secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, came hours after Roosevelt Ogbonna resigned from the board in line with new corporate governance rules issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Ike succeeds Ms. Bolaji Agbede, who has led the company in an acting capacity for the past 18 months after the death of former Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe, in 2024. Under her leadership, the group recorded key milestones, including workforce stability, the execution of a ₦351 billion rights issue, and the seamless hosting of two annual general meetings.
Access Holdings Chairman, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, described Ike’s appointment as the beginning of a new phase for the group, while commending Agbede for her stewardship. “Her outstanding contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable, and we appreciate her dedication in navigating the company through challenges and opportunities,” he said.
Responding, Ike said he was honoured to assume the role and committed to advancing the group’s vision. “I look forward to building on the strong legacy established by Herbert Wigwe and Bolaji Agbede, and driving our vision forward, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders and stakeholders,” he stated.
A graduate of the University of Lagos, where he was Best Graduating Student in Accounting in 1988, Ike is a Fellow of both the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. He brings over three decades of banking experience, having previously served as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank from 2020 to 2022, where he launched the award-winning VULTe digital platform. Before that, he spent a decade at Access Bank, rising to the position of General Manager.
