Thursday 11 October 2012

Ikomi, Keystone Bank CEO, Resigns


B1808212-Oti-Ikomi-1.jpg - B1808212-Oti-Ikomi-1.jpg
Mr. Oti Ikomi


Goddy Egene and Obinna Chima
The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Oti Ikomi, has resigned from the bank, THISDAY learnt Thursday.
Ikomi, who confirmed this development, informed THISDAY that his decision was based on personal and health reasons.
Responding to enquiries from THISDAY, Ikomi, who was appointed into the position 14 months ago, said in a text message: “Mr. Oti Ikomi has resigned for personal and health reasons. He remains a proud member of the Keystone Bank family.”
A statement from the Bank’s Head, Corporate Communication, Mr. Dafe Ivwurie, also confirmed the development.
Keystone is one of the three commercial banks that were acquired by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), through a bridge bank process. The bank was established from the carcass of the defunct BankPHB.
AMCON’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Mustapha Chike-Obi, declined to comment on the matter, saying “if there is anything, ask the chairman of the bank.”
However, THISDAY gathered that the board of Keystone Bank would meet today to consider Ikomi’s resignation and probably appoint a new chief executive officer for the bank.
From indication, any of the five executive directors may succeed Ikomi, except AMCON decides otherwise.
The executive directors are: Mrs. Sally Mbanefo (Commercial Bank); Mrs. Yvonne Isichei (Retail Bank); Dr. Shehu K. Muhammad (Corporate Bank); Mr. Ademola Adewale (Operations and Technology); and Mr. Shehu Abubakar ( Public Sector).
Under Ikomi, Keystone Bank, which was one year on August 5, had set a mission — to set the pace in financial services delivery and creating utmost value for our stakeholders.
Ikomi has a vast geographical business and working knowledge in Africa covering over 30 African countries from West, East, Southern and North Africa.
His banking career commenced at Citibank where he worked for 15 years and had international postings responsible for East Africa and later West Africa for Global Transaction Services.
Ikomi had in a recent interview with THISDAY said: “The major challenge that a bank like Keystone faces is really how to ensure that we meet the needs of our customers and grow our market share. We are extremely unhappy and dissatisfied with the current level of market share that we have. I tell my members of staff and executives that it gives me sleepless night. We have to take this bank to the next level.
“So it is unacceptable to be where we are now. So how can we grow the business and win an extensive support from large base of untapped customers out there? That is our major challenge.”
ThisDay

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