THE board of directors of Fidelity Bank Plc has announced the appointment of three new executive directors. The board approved the appointments of Gbolahan Joshua as executive director/chief operations and information officer; Obaro Odeghe, executive director, corporate bank and Hassan Imam, executive director, northern directorate.

These appointments by the bank are subject to the approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN. Joshua will have executive responsibilities for operations, technology, digital banking, investor relations, strategy and business transformation.

On his part, Odeghe will oversee the entire bank’s corporate banking business covering energy, power, manufacturing, telecoms, fast moving consumer goods, construction and real estate. While Imam will supervise all commercial, SME, consumer and public sector businesses of Fidelity Bank in the northern directorate, comprising 18 states and Abuja.

The elevation of the three former general managers to executive directors is consistent with the bank’s new succession strategy of grooming leaders from within. On the appointments, Nnamdi Okonkwo, chief executive officer, Fidelity Bank, said: “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 three new executive directors were all appointed from within.”

Ernest Ebi, chairman, board of directors, Fidelity Bank, said: “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,” Ebi said.

Joshua attended Kings College, Lagos, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. He is a Chartered Accountant and has attended many 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 and banking including, Operations, Technology, Digital Banking, Strategy, Business Transformation, Finance, Treasury, Mergers and Acquisitions

Similarly, Odeghe attended Edo College, Benin and holds a Bachelor’s 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 banking, commercial banking, SMEs, consumer banking, institutional banking, trade finance and operations.

On his part, Imam holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, has two Masters’ Degrees and an MBA. He has attended programs 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.

– Apr. 12, 2019 @ 18:50 GMT |