The Board of FBN Holdings Plc (FBNHoldings) has announced that Mr U.K. Eke is poised to retire as group managing director of FBNHoldings, following the successful completion of his two-term tenure and his notice of retirement which he tendered August 10, 2021.
In a statement issued by its company secretary, Seye Kosoko, on Thursday, the FBNHoldings board also said that Eke will be succeeded by Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo, immediate past managing director of Fidelity Bank Plc.
The statement described Okonkwo as a focused and result-oriented top banker, who will assume office as group managing director, FBN Holdings Plc effective January 1, 2022.
Okonkwo brings to bear on the Board of FBNHoldings more than 30 years unbroken banking career spanning local and international experience.
He has a wealth of experience in transformational leadership, business strategy development and visioning, innovative corporate governance and risk management. He has led the transformation of banks, with the most recent being Fidelity Bank, where he led the management team in seven years to achieve remarkable results culminating in tripling profit and shareholder value.
He previously served as the Executive Director for Southern Nigeria in Fidelity Bank. He has worked meritoriously on an international level in his capacity as the Managing Director of UBA Ghana; Director, UBA Liberia and a Director of the Ghana National Banking College. He has served in various leadership positions across other financial institutions including Broad Bank of Nigeria Ltd; Citizens International Bank, Nigeria; FSB International Bank Plc, Nigeria; Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, Nigeria; and Merchant Bank of Africa, Nigeria. Mr Okonkwo made remarkable feats as a Director in various organizations including UBA Ghana, UBA Liberia, Nigeria e-government Strategy (Negst), Nigeria Interbank Settlement System Plc, Unified Payment System Ltd and as Chairman, Shareholders Audit Committee FMDQ, amongst others.
His appointment is subject to the approval of regulatory authorities.
The Board also approved the appointment of Mrs Tope Orhionsefe Omage as a Non- Executive Director of First Bank of Nigeria Limited by the Board of FirstBank, subject to the approval of the CBN. It also announced the renewal of the appointments of Dr. Adesola Adeduntan and Mr. Gbenga Shobo as the Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director of FirstBank respectively, for another term.
Similarly, the Board announced the renewal of appointments of Mr. Kayode Akinkugbe and Mr. Taiwo Okeowo as the Managing Director and Deputy Managing Director of FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited respectively, for another term.