The board of Access Holdings Plc is set to announce an interim Group Chief Executive Officer following the tragic passing of its CEO, Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife and son in a helicopter crash in the United States on Friday. Access Holdings Plc confirmed this development in a statement released on Sunday.
According to Sunday Ekwochi, the Group Company Secretary, the appointment of a new leader aligns with the company’s protocols. The statement expressed confidence in the Access Group’s ability to continue building on Dr. Wigwe’s legacy of growth and operational excellence.
Among the passengers on the ill-fated helicopter was Abimbola Ogunbajo, former Chairman of Nigeria Exchange Group. Preliminary reports from the National Transportation Safety Board suggest adverse wintry weather conditions and rain may have contributed to the crash.
Herbert Wigwe had held various significant roles within Access Bank before his appointment as CEO, including Deputy Managing Director and Group Managing Director. He also served as chairman of Access Bank (Ghana), Access Investment & Securities Limited, Central Securities and Clearing System, Access Bank Limited, and Unified Payments Services Limited.
Tributes continue to pour in for the late banker, with businessman Femi Otedola describing his death as a “loss of banking genius.”