Access Bank appoints Uche Orji to board as independent director
Onome Amuge
Access Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Uche Orji as an independent non-executive director of its flagship subsidiary, Access Bank Plc, effective from January 7, 2025, following the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The appointment, according to a statement by Sunday Ekwochi, the company secretary,Access Holdings, reflects its commitment to enhancing its governance practices and ensuring a diverse and experienced board.
Orji was profiled by the company as a renowned investment banking professional, information technology entrepreneur, and finance expert with three decades of professional and board experience.
He is the co-founder and partner of Titangate Capital Management, an equity firm that invests in deep-tech, enterprise software, semi-conductors, hardware, and artificial intelligence companies.
Amongst other accomplishments, Orji is the founder and director of Vitesse Africa Limited, an investment advisory firm focused on African energy, technology and infrastructure sectors.
In addition, he serves as an executive board member and investor in Ultrasafe AI, an artificial intelligence/IT development firm that maintains strategic collaborations with leading technology companies. He also sits on the board of Private Infrastructure Development Group, London, and chairs the Risk Committee.
Orji previously served as the founding managing director and chief executive officer of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA). He also held positions as managing director and senior Analyst at UBS Securities Limited New York and served as managing director and head of European Technology/Semiconductor Equity Research at JP Morgan Securities, London.
His previous leadership positions in the corporate world also included serving as executive director/portfolio manager at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, London. Earlier in his career, he was acting financial controller at Diamond Bank Limited and an audit trainee at Arthur Andersen & Co.
Concerning his education qualifications, Orji holds a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Port-Harcourt and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Commenting on the appointment, Paul Usoro, the chairman of Access Bank confirmed that Orji was appointed based on his exceptionally rich professional, academic, and corporate board experience which will be invaluable to the bank as it continues to pursue its strategic objectives.
Usoro expressed confidence that Orji’s addition to the board would further enrich the quality of its decision-making process, enabling the bank to deliver even greater value to customers and stakeholders.
Usoro added; “His (Orji’s) appointment has been made in accordance with the Bank’s internal policies and has been notified to all relevant regulatory authorities underscoring our commitment to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance.
“On behalf of the Board, Management and staff, I warmly welcome Mr. Orji to the Board and look forward to his contributions towards our goal of becoming one of the top five African Banks in the shortest possible time.”