The United Bank for Africa Plc on Monday announced the appointment of Oliver Alawuba as its Group Managing Director to advance the first-tier bank’s pan-African and global strategy.
The new GMD has been charged with overseeing all of the Group’s banking operations across its 20 African country network and globally in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, and the United Arab Emirates.
Alawuba’s appointment was announced in a statement Monday. The statement added that Mr Alawuba takes on his new position from August 1, 2022, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Reacting to the appointment, UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu said: “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.”
On his part, Alawuba expressed his commitment to his new role as Group Managing Director, saying: “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.”
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, a statement said on Monday.
Equally appointed is Muyiwa Akinyemi, as Deputy Managing Director. Mr Akinyemi joined UBA in 1998, as a Senior Banking Officer in UBA’s Energy Bank, and has served the Group in Nigeria and our broader Africa network for twenty-four years.
Other executive appointments are Sola Yomi-Ajayi, Executive Director, Treasury and International Banking; Ugochukwu Nwagodoh, Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management; and Alex Alozie, Executive Director and Group Chief Operating Officer, who joined the Group in 2019 and has driven the Group’s digital transformation and operational efficiencies.
Also appointed is Emem Usoro, Executive Director, North Bank, who 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 some Executive Directors, who have completed their tenor and will continue to serve the broader Group upon regulatory approval of a holding company structure.
A further announcement was made on the retirement of a Non-Executive Director, Joe C. Keshi, OON, who served as Vice Chairman of the board. This takes effect from August 1, 2022, after the completion of his tenure of twelve years.
