Access Bank Ghana appoints Pearl Nkrumah as new MD

Access Bank (Ghana) Plc has appointed a seasoned banker, Pearl Nkrumah, as its Managing Director, effective Wednesday, October 1, this year.

Having received the approval of the bank’s Board of Directors and the Bank of Ghana, in line with regulatory requirements, the appointment makes Ms Nkrumah the bank’s first female Managing Director (MD) since it started operations in Ghana.

She succeeds Olumide Olatunji, who has led the bank since 2018 and now transitions into a new executive role in Nigeria within the parent company, Access Bank PLC.

Until her appointment, Ms Nkrumah, who joined Access Bank as Executive Director in 2022, served as Executive Director for Retail & Digital Banking of Access Bank (Ghana) and the Head of Retail Business for Access Africa subsidiaries (excluding Nigeria), where she was responsible for driving the bank’s retail banking strategy across 15 markets on the continent.

She also served as Chairperson of the Council of the Ghana Stock Exchange, representing listed companies.

Ms Nkrumah’s 27 years of banking and financial services career started with Standard Chartered Bank, where she worked from 1998 to 2012.

She subsequently joined Stanbic Bank in 2012, where she held various leadership positions within commercial and business banking.

She brings on board extensive expertise in retail and transactional banking, commercial banking, risk management and digital transformation, among others.

The Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Access Bank (Ghana) Plc, Ama Bawuah, commenting on the appointment, said: “We are pleased to welcome Pearl Nkrumah as our new Managing Director.”

She said having worked alongside Pearl on the local board over the past three years, her appointment was a testament to Access Bank’s commitment to diversity and her extensive track record and leadership capabilities.

“We are confident that she will lead the bank into its next phase of growth, building on the successes of her predecessor, while inspiring future generations of women in leadership,” she added.

The Board Chair also thanked Mr Olatunji for his exemplary service and immense contribution to building Access Bank (Ghana) Plc over the years into the formidable business it is today.”

For her part, the incoming Managing Director expressed how privileged she was to lead Access Bank Ghana at such a pivotal time.

“Together with the board, management, and our dedicated employees, we will deliver superior value to our customers, shareholders, and the communities, building Ghana’s leading catalyst for growth in line with our vision to be the world’s most respected African bank and a true partner in national progress,” Ms Nkrumah stated.

Ms Nkrumah’s appointment reflects the bank’s commitment to enhancing its leadership bench and advancing diversity and inclusion initiatives as part of its comprehensive succession planning efforts.

She is expected to build on the successes of her predecessor, under whose leadership the bank chalked up significant milestones and achievements.

Over the past few years, Access Bank has witnessed enormous investor and customer confidence, evidenced by growth in its share price, balance sheet, customer deposits and partnerships with multi-lateral agencies such as International Finance Corporation (IFC), MasterCard and Norfund, among others.

The bank has also earned many global and industry awards for its performance and sustainability footprints.

The outgoing MD expressed confidence in his successor, after he had the privilege to serve in that high position in Ghana for over seven years, saying, “I have no doubt she will continue to strengthen the bank’s position and lead it to even greater heights”.

“During my tenure, I have witnessed the dedication of our people and the resilience of our institution. I am delighted to hand over to Pearl Nkrumah, whose leadership and expertise are well recognised in the industry,” Mr Olatunji added.