Multinational pan-African financial services group, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), has appointed Oliver Alawuba as group managing director effective from August 1, 2022, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The new role will see Alawuba oversee all 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 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.
Commenting on the latest appointment, Tony Elumelu, UBA Group Chairman, expressed his pleasure at the choice of 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 20th 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,” Elumelu said.
On his part, Alawuba expressed his commitment to his new role as group managing director.
“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 said.
UBA also announced the appointment of Muyiwa Akinyemi as the new deputy managing director of the banking group.
Akinyemi joined UBA in 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.
Similarly, Sola Yomi-Ajayi was appointed executive director, treasury and international banking. Prior to the new appointment, Yomi-Ajayi has been with the Group since 2004 and has considerable international experience, culminating in her appointment as CEO of UBA America.
Ugochukwu Nwagodoh, who was appointed executive director, finance and risk management, joined the Group from PwC in October 2004, and has since held a series of significant roles in the areas of performance management, compliance, financial control and reporting.
Alex Alozie was appointed executive director and Group chief operating officer. He joined the Group in 2019 and has driven the Group’s digital transformation and operational efficiencies.
Emem Usoro, executive director, North Bank, joined the Group in 2011 and has served in a series of senior regional appointments across Nigeria, covering the retail, corporate and public sectors.
In another development, the board announced the retirement of five executive directors, who have completed their tenure. However, many of them will continue to serve the broader Group upon regulatory approval of a holding company structure. The retired executives include Kennedy Uzoka, Uche Ike, Chukwuma Nweke, Ibrahim Puri, and Chiugo Ndubisi.
A further announcement was made on the retirement of Joe Keshi, a non-executive director, who served as vice chairman of the board. The retirement takes effect from August 1, 2022 after a completion of his tenure of 12 years.
