By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The immediate managing director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, has been appointed as the Group MD of FBN Holdings Plc.
A statement disclosed that the appointment of Mr Okonkwo, which takes effect from January 1, 2022, followed the retirement of Mr U.K. Eke, who has completed his two-term tenure. He was said to have tendered his notice of retirement to the board on August 10, 2021.
“Uke’s retirement takes effect at the end of the current Financial Year on December 31, 2021. Mr Eke’s retirement follows from a 35-year career in financial services, strategy, auditing, consulting, taxation, process reengineering and capital market operations.
“FBN Holdings board has also announced that Eke will be succeeded by Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, a focused and result-oriented top banker, who will assume office as Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings Plc effective January 1, 2022,” the company secretary, Seye Kosoko, said.
Mr Okonkwo is expected to bring to bear on the board of FBN Holdings more than 30 years of 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 for seven years to achieve remarkable results culminating in tripling profit and shareholder value.
Meanwhile, the board of FBN Holdings has renewed the tenure of Mr Adesola Adeduntan as the MD of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, the banking and flagship subsidiary of the group.
In addition, Mr Gbenga Shobo was allowed to continue as the deputy MD of First Bank for another term, while Mr Kayode Akinkugbe and Mr Taiwo Okeowo will also stay as the MD and DMD of FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited respectively.
