Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
September 8, 2015 – First Bank Nigeria PLC has appointed Executive Director, South, Mr. Urum Kalu Eke as Managing Director, FBN Holdings PLC with effect from January, 1, 2016.
He will now replace Mr. Bello Maccido who was until this appointment Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings.
Eke retired as Executive Director from Diamond Bank. Bello Maccido will however move to FBN Merchant Bank to serve as pioneer Group Chief Executive Officer.
The development comes on the heels of the Group’s earlier notice of Mr. Bisi Onasanya’s retirement as GMD/CEO of the Bank.
A statement from the bank explained that following a rigorous selection process driven by the Board and supported by Heidrick & Struggle, internationally renowned executive search firm, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, the current Executive Director/CFO emerged Managing Director-designate, First Bank of Nigeria while Mr. Gbenga Shobo, the current Executive Director, Lagos & West, emerged Deputy Managing Director-designate.
According to the statement, the decisions have been ratified by the Board of Directors, subject to all necessary regulatory approvals.
In the statement, Group Chairman FBN Holdings, Dr. Oba Otudeko described the process leading to the new appointments as very competitive.
“We are proud to announce these appointments. In reaching these decisions we are mindful of the imperatives for a more efficient group structure that will benefit the Group’s need to deploy systems which deepen efficiency while expanding revenue and returns on investment. We are confident that we have made the right choices in these appointees. In selecting our MD and DMD we were particularly mindful to identify outstanding and topnotch professionals with complementary and mutually reinforcing skill set.
“These appointments are a testament to the strength of our succession planning mechanisms and the caliber of candidates it produces. It also re-articulates our commitment to put our customers first with the confidence in the value that this new leadership team brings to bear on behalf of the Group, customers and employees, even as we strive to return greater value to shareholders,” he said.
