Change of Baton: New GMD Is well-equipped to advance UBA’s pan-African, global strategy −Elumelu

*Tony Elumelu, Group Chairman of the United Bank for Africa Plc, assures the bank’s customers and other stakeholders Oliver Alawuba, new Group Managing Director, has extensive experience, and is well-equipped to advance the UBA pan-African and global strategy

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

Following the recent appointment of Oliver Alawuba as the new Group Managing Director (GMD) of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu (OFR), UBA Group Chairman, has expressed his confidence that Alawuba has extensive experience to advance the bank’s pan-African and global strategy.

The bank recently announced Alawuba as the new GMD to see oversee all the Group’s banking operations across its 20-African country network and globally in the United Kingdom (UK), United States (US), France, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The UBA also announced other fresh Board appointments.

According to the bank, Oliver Alawuba joined UBA in 1997, and has held “a series of senior positions, including as the CEO of UBA Ghana, the CEO of UBA, Africa and most recently, as Group Deputy Managing Director.”

In his remarks on the latest appointment, Elumelu, stated: “I am very pleased to announce Oliver Alawuba as the new Group Managing Director of the UBA Group.

“Oliver has extensive experience in Nigeria and our African network and is well equipped to advance our pan-African and global strategy.

“I have no doubt that Oliver will build on the legacy of Kennedy Uzoka, who has exemplified transformational leadership by championing a customer-first philosophy; launching our twentieth operation in Africa, UBA Mali; acquiring a wholesale banking licence for UBA UK in the United Kingdom; and opening our fourth global operation, UBA Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates.”

Meanwhile, Alawuba has expressed his commitment to his new role as the Group Managing Director

The UBA GMD said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this great institution, and would like to thank the UBA Group Chairman and the members of the Board of Directors for the confidence they have put in me to deliver the mandate.”

He assumed his new position effective from August 1, 2022, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Likewise, Muyiwa Akinyemi has been appointed as the Deputy Managing Director (DMD) of UBA Plc.

The bank noted Akinyemi joined the bank 1998, as a Senior Banking Officer in UBA’s Energy Bank, and has served the Group in Nigeria and its broader Africa network for 24 years.

Other executive appointments involved Sola Yomi-Ajayi, Executive Director, Treasury and International Banking. Sola has been with the Group since 2004, and has considerable international experience, culminating in her appointment as CEO of UBA America, stated the bank.

Ugochukwu Nwagodoh has also been appointed as the Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management.

Nwagodoh joined the Group from PwC in October 2004.

He has since held a series of significant roles in the areas of performance management, compliance, financial control and reporting.

Alex Alozie appointed Executive Director and Group Chief Operating Officer.

The UBA disclosed Alozie joined the Group in 2019, and has driven the Group’s digital transformation and operational efficiencies.

Emem Usoro is appointed Executive Director, North Bank.

Usoro, according to UBA, joined the Group in 2011 and has served in a series of senior regional appointments across Nigeria, covering the retail, corporate and public sectors.

The Board also announced the retirement of the following Executive Directors, who have completed their tenor, many of whom will continue to serve the broader Group upon regulatory approval of a holding company structure.

They are Kennedy Uzoka, Uche Ike, Chukwuma Nweke, Ibrahim Puri and Chiugo Ndubisi.

A further announcement was made on the retirement of a Non-Executive Director, Ambassador Joe C. Keshi, OON, who served as Vice-Chairman of the board.

The bank said his retirement took effect from August 1, after a completion of his tenure of 12 years.

Elumelu congratulated the retiring Directors on the completion of their tenors and their exemplary records.

ConsumerConnect reports the United Bank for Africa is regarded as one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 35 million customers globally.

Operating in 20 African countries and in the UK, US, France and the UAE, UBA Plc provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting-edge technology.