The pioneer Managing Director of the Access Bank Group, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhede, has been appointed as the chairman of Access Holdings.

According to a statement from the financial institution filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Wednesday, Aig- Imoukhuede will replace Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, the erstwhile Chairman of the HoldCo, who remains on the Board as an Independent Non-Executive Director.

Aig-Imoukhede returns to the group 10 years after he left following the death of his friend and co-founder, Herbert Wigwe, earlier in February.

Wigwe, alongside his wife, Doreen, and son, Chizzy died in a helicopter crash in California near the Nevada border, United States of America in February.

They were buried in a private tomb inside the Wigwe University which he built in Isiokpo, Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State on March 9.

The bank said the appointment of Aig-Imoukhede followed extensive consultations with key stakeholders, “the Holdco Board unanimously decided to invite Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede to the helm of governance.

With an illustrious career spanning several decades in the banking and finance sector. Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede has proven to be an exceptional and influential leader, having admirably laid a solid foundation for Access Bank’s success as Group Chief Executive Officer between 2002 and 2013 ably supported by his partner and deputy, the late Dr. Herbert Wigwe, CFR who later succeeded him.”

The bank said under Aig-Imoukhuede’s leadership, Access Bank experienced remarkable growth and established itself as a trusted financial institution within the community, growing the Bank’s customer base from ten thousand to over six million with more than 5,000 employees and an asset base of $12bn.

Speaking about his return, Jimoh expressed his excitement, saying, “Mr. Aig-Imoukhuede’s appointment to the Board and subsequent election as Chairman. is a landmark development for Access Holdings. All our board members are excited about our future.”

Commenting on his appointment, Aig-Imoukhuede, said, “I am thrilled to be back in active service to the Access Group ecosystem. I am confident that working with our directors, our exceptional team of executives and our best-in-class banking and finance professionals, we will deliver outstanding value to our esteemed stakeholders. I am determined that our shared vision which Dr. Wigwe gave everything for, will be realised.”

Following his retirement as the bank’s CEO in December 2013, Aig-Imoukhuede cofounded the Tengen Family Office Limited which oversees a significant portfolio of investments and businesses in banking, finance, insurance, technology, real estate, and energy.

Credit: Punch