Gbenga Oyebode Chairman Access Bank’s Retires

Obinna Chima
Access Bank Plc yesterday announced the retirement of Mr. Gbenga Oyebode, as a director and chairman of the bank. The bank also appointed Mrs. Mosun Belo-Olusoga as his successor with effect from July 30, 2015.

The retirement of Oyebode followed his successful completion of the maximum term limit as prescribed by the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Code of Corporate Governance for Banks and Discount Houses in Nigeria.

A statement explained that the appointment of Belo-Olusoga followed a thorough selection process by the Governance and Nomination Committee of the Board led by Mr. Emmanuel Chiejina, a non-executive director.

Belo-Olusoga joined the Board of the Bank in November 2007 as a non-executive director. Until her recent appointment, she was the Chairperson of the Credit and Finance Committee and member of the Board Committees on Audit, Governance and Nomination, Risk Management and Remuneration.

She was formerly an Executive Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc and was at various times responsible for Risk Management, Corporate and Commercial Banking and Transaction Services and Settlements. She is a graduate of Economics from University of Ibadan and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigerian and Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

Commenting on his retirement from the bank, Oyebode said: “I am glad that Mrs Belo-Olusoga will be succeeding me as chairperson. Her significant board experience; knowledge of our dynamic industry and personal qualities will be highly beneficial to Access Bank.”
On her part, Belo-Olusoga said: ‘‘I consider it a great privilege to chair Access Bank, an outstanding financial institution at a time like this.  I look forward to working with its great team in transforming it into the World’s Most Respected African Bank.”

With this development, the Board is now comprised of 15 directors made up of seven executive directors and eight non-executive directors, two of whom are independent.

“As part of its continued growth strategy, Access Bank is focused on mainstreaming sustainable business practices into its operations. The bank strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible and socially relevant.”