The United Bank for Africa Plc has appointed Abiola Bawuah as the Chief Executive Officer of its operations in Africa.
The bank announced her appointment, stating that this move demonstrates UBA’s commitment to diversity as the Group Board now includes eight female Directors.
Bawuah, who is a Ghanaian, is the first female CEO of UBA Africa and will be joining the Group Board as an Executive Director, overseeing the Group’s operations across the African continent.
Daily Trust reported that, prior to her appointment, Bawuah first held the role of CEO, UBA Ghana before becoming the Regional CEO, West Africa, supervising the Group’s operations in nine subsidiaries, including Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, and Sierra Leone.
UBA operates in 19 African countries beyond Nigeria, in addition to global operations in New York, London, Paris and the UAE.
Speaking on the new appointment, the Group Board Chairman Tony O. Elumelu said, “Abiola has contributed significantly to the growth of UBA Africa for close to a decade.
“She brings a wealth of experience in commercial banking, and stakeholder engagement. It also gives me great pleasure that with her appointment, the UBA Group Board has now become a majority female board.”
The UBA Group also announced Chris Ofikulu as the Regional CEO, UBA West Africa. Ofikulu has over two decades of banking experience spanning corporate, commercial, and retail banking.
Other appointments include: Uzoechina Molokwu, who will take on the role as Deputy Managing Director of UBA Ghana, subject to local regulatory approvals; Ayokunle Olajubu will be the Managing Director/CEO UBA Liberia, subject to local regulatory approvals.
Theresa Henshaw, who was previously the DMD, Business Development, UBA America, was appointed as CEO of UBA UK, subject to local regulatory approvals.
Usman Isiaka, who is currently CEO, UBA Sierra Leone, will be the Deputy CEO in UBA America, subject to local regulatory approvals.
Meanwhile Adeyemi Adeleke, the former CEO of UBA, UK is now the Group Treasurer.