Wema Bank Plc has announced the appointment of a new Deputy Managing Director and an Executive Director due to the upcoming retirement of Mr. Oluwole Akinleye, the current Deputy Managing Director, effective November 30, 2024.
Oluwole Ajimisinmi, currently an Executive Director, will assume the role of Deputy Managing Director from December 1, 2024. Olukayode Bakare was appointed Executive Director on December 1, 2024.
Oluwole Akinleye was appointed Executive Director of Wema Bank Plc in December 2014 and became Deputy Managing Director on April 1, 2023.
As Executive Director and later Deputy Managing Director, he oversaw the Southwest business, Corporate Banking Division, Customer Experience Management, and Corporate Sustainability Department of the Bank.
He also played a pivotal role in steering the Bank towards significant growth, demonstrating outstanding leadership and commitment to excellence.
Oluwole Ajimisinmi – Deputy Managing Director
In line with the Bank’s succession planning, the Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Oluwole Ajimisinmi as the new Deputy Managing Director, effective December 1, 2024. Oluwole Ajimisinmi joined Wema Bank Plc in July 2009 as the Company Secretary/Legal Adviser and was appointed to the Board as an Executive Director in July 2020.
Oluwole has a robust wealth of experience in banking and corporate governance. His appointment as the new Deputy Managing Director of the Bank is based on his experience, strength and diversity, outstanding strategic orientation, good product development, and portfolio management capabilities.
He currently supervises the Lagos Business Directorate and the Remedial/Recovery Department of the Bank. Oluwole earned his first degree in Law from the University of Jos and his B.L. from the Nigerian Law School.
He is an alumnus of the prestigious General Management Program (GMP) at Harvard Business School.
Olukayode Bakare – Executive Director
The Board has likewise appointed Olukayode Bakare as the bank’s Executive Director. Olukayode is a proficient treasury and finance professional with over thirty-two (32) years of postgraduate experience in the academic and banking sectors.
Until his appointment, he was the Divisional Executive in charge of the bank’s Treasury, Wholesale Funding, and Global Trade Business.
Olukayode studied Economics at the Ogun State University and obtained an MSC from the University of Ibadan in 1995.
He also holds an ACI dealing Certificate (Distinction) from the Financial Markets Association, Paris, France.
Olukayode has attended various courses and seminars, including the Advanced Capital Market program at the New York Institute of Finance, Digital Transformation at IMD, Lausanne, Switzerland, and Changing the Game: Negotiation and Competitive Decision-Making at Harvard Business School.
He is an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
Olukayode started his banking career in Ecobank Limited and has played diverse strategic roles in various banking institutions, including being the pioneer Treasurer at Diamond du Republic of Benin. He once was the group executive of market risk management at Intercontinental Bank (now Access Bank).
However, the Board of Directors and Management express their deepest gratitude to Mr. Akinleye for his invaluable contributions and unwavering commitment to the Bank’s mission and vision.
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