By Adedapo Adesanya

Mr Innocent Ike has been announced as the new chief executive of Access Holdings Plc, effective August 29, 2025, replacing Ms Bolaji Agbede, who held the acting role for the last 18 months following the demise of its founder, Mr Herbert Wigwe.

In compliance with regulatory stipulations on the required years of experience for a Financial Holding Company’s Managing Director, Ms Agbede will revert to her substantive role as the organisation’s Executive Director for Business Support.

By Dipo Olowookere

A high-performing broker, award-winning team leader, and respected mentor, Mr Julián David Londoño Franco, has been appointed to lead the operations of eXp Realty in Colombia.

A statement from the agent-centric real estate brokerage said the appointment of Mr Franco as the new Country Leader for Colombia marks a bold new phase of growth, results, and agent empowerment across Latin America.

He succeeds Virginia Restrepo, who oversees broader scaling efforts as Regional Director for CALA (Central America and Latin America). A key architect of eXp’s success in Colombia, Restrepo was instrumental in launching the market, building local leadership, and positioning the country for lasting impact.

Mr Franco is expected to use his leadership to fuel agent attraction, training, and business development in one of eXp’s fastest-growing Latin American countries, and he is enthusiastic about the appointment.

“Moving my business to eXp was a major decision, one I made because I believe in what this model offers agents.

“The opportunity to grow a business with more flexibility, ownership, and global collaboration represents, to me, an innovative approach that is shaping both the present and the future of this industry. I’m excited to help more agents in Colombia experience what’s possible with eXp,” he enthused.

The Managing Director for International at eXp Realty, Mr Felix Bravo, said Mr Franco was chosen for this role because “he understands what agents need to succeed today, and he’s deeply committed to helping them do it. Colombia’s agents are in very good hands.”

“Julian brings a proven leadership style that reflects eXp’s commitment to agent success. He’s a respected figure in Colombia’s real estate community and understands how to support agents in building sustainable, productive businesses. His appointment strengthens our presence across Latin America,” he added.

Mr Franco holds a degree in Business Administration from Universidad del Rosario in Bogotá, with a background in marketing, sales, and business strategy.

He previously served as owner and team leader of IEBR SAS (a former RE/MAX franchise), now operating as Team Platinum by eXp, where he consistently earned national recognition for productivity and service excellence.

He is widely respected as a mentor and consultant to real estate professionals and is driven by a mission to elevate the industry through momentum, performance, and exceptional service.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The chief executive of MTN Nigeria, Mr Karl Toriola, has been appointed as the new Vice President of Francophone Africa for the MTN Group starting November 1, 2025. He will remain as the head of the Nigerian unit.

Mr Toriola has led MTN Nigeria since 2021, but before that, he had held leadership roles in Francophone West Africa since 2010.

MTN Nigeria, under Mr Toriola’s leadership, saw several milestones both for the company and the wider industry, including spearheading the first comprehensive tariff increase in 12 years.

Also in the first six months of 2025, the telco also saw a net profit of N414.9 billion, after a N519.1 billion in the 2024 fiscal year.

The new role will see him oversee some of the group’s key Francophone markets, including Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Congo Brazzaville.

The appointment is part of MTN’s broader leadership reshuffle as the group refines its Ambition 2025 strategy to remain strong in three core areas: connectivity, fintech, and digital infrastructure.

Mr Toriola, while leading the largest and most profitable subsidiary of MTN Group, will be seeking to replicate some of his successes in these markets.

There were other leadership changes including in South Africa where Mr Ferdi Moolman, currently Group Chief Risk Officer and a former CEO of MTN Nigeria, will become the new CEO of MTN South Africa, succeeding Mr Charles Molapisi.

Also, Ms Yolanda Cuba, who steps into the role of Deputy CEO and Executive Director of MTN SA, ensuring continuity and leadership depth.

The Group Chief Financial Officer, Mr Tsholofelo Molefe, will now oversee mergers and acquisitions (M&A), consolidating capital allocation and ensuring that investment decisions are aligned with the Group’s long-term growth priorities. This move brings M&A squarely under the finance portfolio, tightening discipline around capital deployment.

On the markets front, Mr Ebenezer Asante, previously Senior Vice President of Markets, will assume responsibility for Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan, Sudan, Liberia, and joint ventures in Eswatini and Botswana. He takes on this revised role as Vice President of Ghana and Southern & East Africa, focusing on accelerating growth and deepening contributions from these operations.

“These leadership changes illustrate the depth of talent and experience we have across the Group,” MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita said in a statement on Monday. “The changes will support the accelerated execution of our strategy beyond 2025 as well as greater value creation for stakeholders over the medium term.”