Access Holdings Plc, Nigeria’s largest banking group, has announced the appointment of Innocent Ike as its substantive Group Managing Director/CEO, effective August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval.
Ike, who previously served as Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank (2020–2022), succeeds Bolaji Agbede, who has steered the group in an acting capacity for the past 18 months.
In its statement on Wednesday, the group explained that Agbede will revert to her role as Executive Director, Business Support, due to regulatory requirements on the minimum years of experience needed to head a financial holding company.
Transition and achievements under Agbede
During her 18-month tenure, Agbede provided stability at a critical time for Access Holdings. She oversaw:
- A smooth leadership transition following the passing of former Group CEO, Herbert Wigwe.
- The successful execution of the company’s ₦351 billion ($229 million)Rights Issue.
- The seamless hosting of two Annual General Meetings.
The company Chairman Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede praised her leadership: “We are thrilled to welcome Ike as we move forward. At the same time, we want to express our deepest gratitude to Agbede. Her contributions over the past 18 months have been invaluable.”
Ike’s profile: From Access veteran to Polaris CEO
Ike brings over three decades of experience in banking and financial services.
- He earned a BSc (Hons) in Accounting from the University of Lagos in 1988, graduating as Best Student.
- He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and a Certified International Financial Reporting Standards expert.
- At Access Bank, where he spent a decade, he rose to General Manager, overseeing corporate, commercial, and public sector portfolios.
- As CEO of Polaris Bank, he spearheaded the launch of VULTe, the bank’s digital banking platform, which won awards such as BusinessDay BAFI Digital Bank of the Year and Nigerian Fintech Digital Bank of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
Commenting on his appointment, Ike said he was honoured to take on the role of Group Managing Director/CEO and excited to work alongside the talented team at Access Holdings.
“I look forward to building on the strong legacy established by Herbert Wigwe and Agbede, and driving our vision forward to deliver exceptional value to shareholders and stakeholders.”
Access Bank’s expansive footprint
The banking segment of Access Holdings Plc operates through 16 subsidiaries, including its parent company in Nigeria and its United Kingdom subsidiary—the group’s only intercontinental unit.
Beyond Nigeria and the UK, Access Bank has 14 subsidiaries across Africa, spanning Ghana, Rwanda, D.R. Congo, Zambia, Gambia, Mozambique, Kenya, South Africa, Botswana, Cameroon, Angola, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Tanzania.
This footprint makes Access Bank the largest banking group in Nigeria by assets, reflecting its ambition to deepen financial inclusion and expand its global reach.
Access Holdings reiterated its ambition to become the “World’s most respected African financial services group.” With Ike at the helm, the group believes it is well-positioned for sustained growth and success.
