As part of corporate realignment and repositioning for its next growth phase, Fidelity Bank Plc named Gbolahan Joshua, Obaro Odeghe and Hassan Imman as executive directors in as part of effort to drive what the next growth phase of the bank.
The appointments were made by the bank’s board following a recent meeting in Lagos where approval was give for Joshua to become executive director/chief operations and information officer; Odeghe as executive director, corporatebank, and Hassan Imman as executive director, Northern Directorate. These appointments are subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the bank said in a statement made available to business a.m.
According to the bank, Joshua will have executive responsibilities for operations, technology, digital banking, investorrelations, strategy and business transformation. Obaro Odeghe on his part will oversee all the bank’s corporate banking business covering energy, power, manufacturing, telecoms, fast moving consumer goods, construction and real estate. Hassan will supervise all commercial, SME, consumer and public sector businesses of Fidelity Bank in the North Directorate, comprising 18 states and Abuja.
Before their appointments, Joshua, Odeghe and Imman were general managers and the bank said their elevation is consistent with the bank’s new succession strategy of grooming leaders from within.
“Over the years, we have worked assiduously at proactively preparing our people and growing the talent and leadership pool in the bank, so that when opportunities arise, we do not always have to look outside. I am most delighted that our 3 new EDs were all appointed from within,” said Nnamdi Okonkwo, chief executive officer of Fidelity Bank.
The board of the bank is led by Ernest Ebi, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, and has three female executive directors, the largest number of females on the board of any bank in the country.
“We welcome Gbolahan, Obaro and Hassan to the board. Collectively they have with them, varied and deep industry knowledge and relevant experiences that will not only deepen but engender even more robust discussions and engagements at board level. Please join me in congratulating them,” said Ebi, the board chairman.
Gbolahan attended Kings College Lagos and holds a first degree in accounting. He is a chartered accountant and has attended several executive and banking specific programmes in leading educational and professional institutions including Harvard, IMD, and Euromoney. He has 20 years of comprehensive experience across various areas of assurance andbanking including, operations, technology, digital banking, strategy, business transformation, finance, treasury, mergers and acquisitions
Obaro attended Edo College Benin and holds a first degree in agriculture and an MBA. He has gained exposures from top global educational and professional institutions including Harvard, Wharton and Kelloggs. He has 24 years of banking experience across various areas of banking including, corporate and commercial banking, SMEs, consumer banking,institutional banking, trade finance and operations.
Hassan on his part, holds a first degree in economics, two Masters’ degrees and an MBA. He has attended programmes in Harvard, Stanford, Wharton and other leading international educational and professional institutions. He has 25 years of comprehensive experience across various areas of banking including, commercial banking, consumer banking, SMEs,institutional banking, trade finance, operations, treasury and risk management.
The bank’s statement also included a background information in which it described itself as a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria, with over 4.2 million customers who are serviced across its 240 business offices and various other digital banking channels. “Focused on select niche corporate banking sectors as well as micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Fidelity Bank is rapidly implementing a digital based retail banking strategy which has resulted in an exponential growth in deposits and a corresponding surge in customer enrollment on the bank’s flagship mobile/internet banking products,” the bank further stated.
