• Access Holdings appoints Innocent Ike as new CEO, Aug 29
• Appointment follows Herbert Wigwe’s 2024 death, Agbede’s interim tenure
• Ike to drive global expansion, continue group’s strategic vision

Access Holdings, one of Nigeria's largest financial groups, has officially appointed Innocent Ike as its new Group Managing Director and CEO, effective Friday, August 29, 2025, following regulatory approval. The decision comes 18 months after the tragic death of the former CEO, Herbert Wigwe, who was killed in a helicopter crash near Nipton, California, in February 2024.

Ike's appointment ends the interim leadership of Bolaji Agbede, who stepped in during a critical period to ensure the group's operational continuity and oversee several key initiatives. She successfully supervised a 351 billion naira ($228 million) rights issue to raise capital.

Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of the group's board, said that while regulatory requirements made the change necessary, Agbede's contribution over the past 18 months had been invaluable. He noted the company was grateful for the strong foundation she helped lay before resuming her role as an Executive Director in charge of corporate support.

New Leadership, Same Vision

Ike's appointment is seen as a strategic choice to uphold Access Holdings' ambition and strengthen its position in the African market as the company pursues its international expansion plan. The company aims to extend its operations to new markets in Africa, Europe, North America, and Asia in the coming years.

The holding company's goal is to become "the World's most respected African Bank." With this in mind, the new CEO has committed to continuing the work started by his predecessors. “I am honoured to take on the role of Group Managing Director /Chief Executive Officer 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 Bolaji Agbede, and driving our vision forward, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional value to our shareholders and stakeholders," he said in a statement following his appointment.

With more than 30 years of experience in the banking and financial sectors, Ike has a solid background that should enable him to meet the challenges of his new role. The accountant has held several senior positions. At Access Bank, he led strategic divisions. From 2020 to 2022, he served as Managing Director of Polaris Bank, where he launched VULTe, its digital banking platform. He is also the founder of Blue Marina Asset Management, a Nigerian company licensed as a fund and portfolio manager since February 2025.

Sandrine Gaingne