Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe will become the first female executive to lead the Fidelity Bank Plc after she formally assumed her role as the Chief Executive Officer of the bank. No doubt, the financial services sector is witnessing the arrival of a transformational leader.
The fact is, not many can beat her professional pedigree, having served as an Executive Director at two different banks- first at the erstwhile Enterprise Bank (now Heritage Bank) and later, Fidelity Bank Plc. She also has occupied middle, senior and executive management positions in corporate, commercial, retail banking, treasury and legal departments.
However, in a sector dominated by men, where not many women have assumed the leadership of their banks, all eyes are on Mrs Onyeali-Ikpe as she takes over the mantle of leadership at Fidelity Bank.
Fidelity Bank says Onyeli-Ikpe’s leadership will ensure growth based on a track record of performance. In a statement put forward recently, stating her appointment on January 1st 2021, the bank stated:
“Under Mrs Onyeali-Ikpe’s leadership, the bank will consolidate on the already laid foundation and track record of performance, to execute the next growth phase. Onyeali-Ikpe was formerly the Executive Director, Lagos and South West Directorate of the bank, and has been an integral part of management in the last six years.
“She joined the bank in 2015 and spearheaded the transformation of the Directorate, leading it to profitability and sustained its impressive year-on-year growth across key performance metrics, including contributing over 28 per cent of the Bank’s profit before tax, Deposits and Loans.
“As an Executive Director at Legacy Enterprise Bank Plc, she received formal commendation from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), as a member of the management team that successfully turned around Enterprise Bank Plc.”
In July that Fidelity Bank Plc announced the appointment of Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe as its new Chief Executive Officer Designate, while in December, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe purchased additional five million units of the bank’s shares totalling N12.97million.
According to a release by the Bank, Mrs. Onyeali-Ikpe has been an integral part of the transformation team at Fidelity Bank in the last six years. She was formerly Executive Director, Lagos and South West, overseeing the bank’s business in the six states that make up the South West region of the bank. She led the transformation of the Directorate to profitability and sustained its impressive year-on-year growth, across key performance metrics, including contributing over 28% of the Bank’s PBT, Deposits and Loans.
She is a consummate professional of over 30 years’ experience across various banks including Standard Chartered Bank Plc, Zenith Bank Plc and Citizens International Bank Limited, where she held several management positions in Legal, Treasury, Investment Banking, Retail/Commercial Banking, Corporate Banking. She has been involved in the structuring of transactions in various sectors including oil & gas, manufacturing, aviation, real estate and exports.
Mrs. Onyeali-Ikpe holds Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and Master of Laws (LLM) degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Kings College, London, respectively. She has attended executive training programs at Harvard Business School, The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania, INSEAD School of Business, Chicago Booth School of Business, London Business School and IMD amongst others.
She possesses core competencies in innovation and digital leadership, strategy formulation, business improvement and finance management and deep industry knowledge. She is also an Honorary Senior Member (HCIB) of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
Fidelity Bank/Nigeria attracts deposits and offers commercial and retail banking services. The Bank offers corporate and consumer loans, foreign exchange, and private banking services.
She is regarded by many as a turnaround specialist- with her well acknowledged effort as part of the team that took over the former Enterprise Bank and repositioned the Bank before its acquisition by Heritage Bank.
She also reportedly performed the same feat as the Executive Director responsible for the Lagos and South West Directorate in Fidelity Bank Plc which she joined in 2015.
