Access Bank Plc has elevated Oluseyi Kumapayi to Deputy Managing Director, African Subsidiaries, and appointed Olanrewaju Bamisebi as Executive Director, Information Technology and Digitalisation, in a leadership restructuring aimed at improving profitability, capital efficiency and operational performance across its banking operations.
The appointments, which took effect on October 27 and 28, 2026, respectively, follow approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), according to a notification filed by Access Holdings Plc with the Nigerian Exchange Limited.
The changes come as Access Holdings shifts its strategic focus from expanding its banking footprint to extracting greater value from its existing operations, particularly its African subsidiaries, while strengthening technology integration within its flagship banking business.
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Kumapayi, who previously served as Executive Director, African Subsidiaries, will retain responsibility for the bank’s African operations in his new position, with an expanded mandate to improve subsidiary profitability, capital productivity, operational efficiency and cross-border business integration.
His elevation underscores the growing importance of Access Bank’s African franchise to the group’s earnings strategy, as the lender seeks to translate its established presence across the continent into stronger financial returns.
With more than 25 years of banking experience, Kumapayi joined Access Bank in 2002 and served as Group Chief Financial Officer between 2007 and 2020. He assumed responsibility for the bank’s African subsidiaries in November 2020.
His previous responsibilities spanned financial management, strategy, risk, treasury and business development, experience expected to support the group’s efforts to improve the financial contribution of its overseas operations.
The second appointment sees Bamisebi move from Access Holdings to the board of Access Bank, bringing executive responsibility for information technology and digitalisation directly into the bank’s operating structure.
The restructuring signals a shift towards closer alignment between technology investments and the bank’s commercial priorities, including revenue generation, customer experience, cost management and operational resilience.
Bamisebi, who has more than 20 years of experience in technology transformation, digital banking and enterprise systems, previously led technology strategy and shared technology services at Access Holdings.
In his new role, he will oversee the modernisation and simplification of technology platforms, cybersecurity, operational resilience and deployment of digital solutions aimed at improving customer experience and business performance.
His experience includes senior leadership positions at Equity Group Holdings, where he served as Group Director of Information Technology and Operations and Managing Director of Finserve Africa. He also previously served as Group Chief Information Officer at Diamond Bank.
Commenting on the appointments, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, group chairman of Access Holdings, said the group was now focused on converting its extensive banking presence into stronger financial performance and sustainable shareholder value.
“Access Holdings has built a substantial banking franchise across Africa and beyond. Our strategic priority is now to translate that scale into superior performance, greater efficiency, stronger returns on capital and sustainable value for shareholders,” he said.
He said Kumapayi’s elevation would strengthen the group’s efforts to improve the performance of its African subsidiaries, while Bamisebi’s appointment would bring technology leadership closer to the bank’s operations, customers and commercial priorities.
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According to Aig-Imoukhuede, clearer accountability, stronger execution and disciplined investment in technology would be critical to the group’s next phase of development.
Roosevelt Ogbonna, managing director and chief executive officer of Access Bank, said the lender was prioritising productivity, efficiency, and profitability through better deployment of capital, technology and its existing market presence.
“Across our African subsidiaries, the emphasis will be on improving returns, strengthening execution and capturing greater value from our existing franchise,” Ogbonna said.
He added that the bank would focus on simplifying technology platforms, improving reliability, accelerating innovation and delivering better customer outcomes at a lower cost to serve.
Chinwe Michael is a Nigerian business journalist and media professional with over 4 years of experience covering companies, financial markets, banking, fintech, economic policy, financial inclusion, and corporate affairs. She currently leads the Companies & Markets desk at BusinessDay, where she drives coverage of Nigeria’s corporate and capital markets, translates complex financial data into accessible stories, and mentors younger journalists. Prior to that, she was the head of the financial inclusion/fintech desk. With a background in banking and finance and extensive experience in media and communications, Michael has developed expertise in financial journalism, economic analysis, investigative reporting and market intelligence. Her work examines how monetary policy, corporate performance, capital flows, technology, and regulatory decisions affect businesses, investors, and households. She was selected from about 3,000 applicants as one of 20 journalists for Cohort 4 of the MTN Media Innovation Programme, gaining exposure to new approaches to journalism, technology, and media innovation. Her international journalism experience and engagement with professionals across Russia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and others in different sectors have further broadened her understanding of global communication and development.
