The Board and Management of Access Bank (Zambia) Limited have announced the appointment of Mr. Jekwu Ozoemene as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective 1st November, 2011.
Jekwu, who succeeds Mrs. Mukwandi Chibesakunda as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, brings onboard over 12 years cognate experience in Investment, Commercial Banking, Development and Housing Finance and the competency to propel the Bank in its next growth phase, leveraging his predecessor’s achievements and contributions to the Bank’s expansion and positioning in the Zambian market in the last three years.
Specifically, Jekwu has been appointed to utilise quality local talent and the transferable competitive strengths of Access Bank Plc, such as: the invaluable depth of management experience in operating in the Sub-Saharan African banking terrain; a strong corporate governance framework; a first class, industry recognised people development structure; and a strong culture and value system that adds real value to the Zambian market. This is consistent with the Access Bank Group’s objectives of empowering Africans and becoming the major catalyst for growth on the continent.
Mr. Jekwu will also seek or create other opportunities to support the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) such as the Access Group’s recent US$15 Million investment in the GRZ’s US150 Million fixed rate unsecured and unsubordinated US$ Private Placement.
His banking experience and specialty covers the Nigerian and International Commercial and Investment banking environments where he has held various strategic positions, some of which include (with Access Bank Plc): Group Head Commercial Banking Division Port Harcourt and Group Head Global Financial Markets, as well as serving as a Senior Investment Officer with the Netherlands Development Finance Company (FMO).
He has strong organizational and technical skills, a proficiency that has seen him serve in several special committees as Project Director of Access Bank Plc’s 2007 Capital Raising exercise which comprised a N70 Billion Local Public Offer (total offer subscription was N240 Billion, over 242% over subscription) and a US$250 Million GDR out of London (received total quotes of US$1.95 Billion).
In Nigeria, Jekwu served as a Member of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Affordable Housing, having earlier helped the Federal Housing Authority of Nigeria design a National Affordable Housing Finance Model. Prior to this appointment, he had taught Project and Real Estate Finance Module at the FITC (an institution owned by the Banker’s Committee set up to provide training, consulting and research services to players in the Nigerian financial services and related industries) for five years.
Jekwu holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) from the University of Lagos Nigeria, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Finance from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom and has attended several local and international training programs.
Speaking on the appointment Mr. Caleb Mulenga, Chairman, Access Bank Zambia, said “the Board and Management of the Access Bank (Zambia) Limited would like to congratulate Mr. Jekwu Ozoemene on his appointment and assures him of the full support of the Board in his quest to create value for stakeholders in the Zambian financial community.”