September 18, (THEWILL) – The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has constituted a new board for Keystone Bank Limited as part of efforts to strengthen the lender’s operations for sustained business growth.
The apex bank had in January dissolved the board and management of Union Bank, Keystone Bank, and Polaris Bank.
In a statement on Wednesday, Keystone Bank said Ada Chukwudozie has been appointed as the new board chairman, alongside five other non-executive directors, including Abdul-Rahman Esene, Fola Akande, Akintola Ayodeji Olusoji, Obijiaku Samuel, and Farouk Bello.
The CBN also appointed Ladi Oluwole and Abubakar Usman Bello as executive directors of the bank.
According to the statement, Chukwudozie is a leading figure in Nigeria’s corporate world, with nearly 30 years of experience in business strategy, management, and administration. Her expertise spans multiple industries and institutions, including De-Endy Industrial Company Limited, Dozzy Group, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), and Vogue Afrique Magazine.
“Esene has over 43 years of experience in banking, investment management, corporate finance, and advisory services. He has made significant contributions to the financial sector in Nigeria and beyond through his accomplishments and leadership roles at renowned global institutions, including Afrinvest, Global Arbitrage International Inc., Fidelity Bank Plc, the Nigeria Air Force, and Louisiana-Pacific Corporation.
“Fola Akande brings over 25 years of exceptional experience in navigating the complex fields of legal, regulatory compliance, risk management, and corporate governance across various local and international markets, including Cadbury, Stanbic Chartered Bank, and Shell.
“Akintola Ayodeji Olusoji has over 30 years of experience in accounting, finance, business development, risk asset creation, and performance monitoring with a distinguished career spanning financial institutions such as Sterling Bank, Access Bank, Intercontinental Bank, and Global Bank.
“Obijiaku Samuel comes with over 35 years of expertise in financial consulting, banking, and treasury operations. He has significantly impacted Nigeria’s financial sector through his achievements and leadership roles at prominent institutions such as Fidelity Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc, and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
“Farouk Bello is a seasoned banker with over 20 years of experience and remarkable achievements in financial and banking operations. His leadership roles have spanned both the public and private sectors, including regulatory bodies and private enterprises. With a strong track record, he has successfully shaped and delivered business processes and financial solutions across various institutions like the National Assembly and Guaranty Trust Bank (now GTCO), among others.
“Abubakar Usman Bello, executive director northern directorate, has acquired considerable experience in banking and management which spans various areas of banking, managing commercial, retail, corporate and public sector clients, and has served in strategic leadership and management roles.
“Ladi Oluwole, executive director risk management, brings with him over 20 years of expertise in enterprise and credit risk management and a proven track record in the financial services industry. Previously, he served as senior vice-president and senior credit officer at Bank of America, North America, where he managed an extensive credit portfolio within the Corporate, Investment, and Commercial Bank,” Keystone said.
Speaking on the appointments, Keystone Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Hassan Imam, said he is optimistic that the new board members will bring their wealth of experiences to a crucial role in the bank’s continued repositioning and growth.
“We are pleased to welcome the new chairman, non-executive directors, and executive directors to the board of Keystone Bank. We are confident that their extensive experience will be invaluable as we continue to reposition the bank to seize emerging economic opportunities while maintaining strong corporate governance and providing our customers with a secure and reliable banking experience,” Imam said.
