…Sola Oyinlola retires, Suleiman Barau becomes new Chairman
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc has notified the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) of the following changes to the Board of Directors of the Company:
Mr. Hezekiah Sola Oyinlola, the Chairman of the Board since the establishment of the Company has retired. A distinguished leader with deep institutional insight, Mr. Oyinlola’s legacy is imprinted in the strength, structure, and strategic direction of the Company His stewardship nurtured a high-performance board culture and a governance framework that continues to support long-term value creation for stakeholders. The Board and Management are profoundly grateful for his leadership, guidance, and wish him continued success in all his future endeavours.
Following the retirement of Mr. Oyinlola as Chairman, the Board is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Suleiman Barau as the new Chairman of the Board, subject to the approval of the CBN. Mr. Barau brings to the role his experience as a two-term Deputy Governor of the CBN. Before that he was a Special Adviser to the CBN Governor and was involved in significant reforms of the banking and financial services industry, particularly on banking, payments and monetary policies. The Board is confident that under Mr. Barau’s guidance, GTCO will continue to thrive, innovate, and deliver superior value to all stakeholders.
Mr. Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company said, “We are honoured to have Mr. Suleiman Barau assume the role of Chairman. His deep regulatory experience and proven leadership within the financial sector will be instrumental in guiding the Board’s oversight as we execute our strategic intent. His appointment reflects our commitment to good governance and sustainable growth”
Also, Mrs. Helen Bouygues, an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company, has also retired. Mrs. Bouygues served the Board with distinction and brought immense value to the Company through her dedication, independence, and strategic insights. The Board sincerely appreciates Mrs. Bouygues’s exemplary service and wishes her continued success in her future endeavours.
In the same vein, the Board equally announced the appointment of Mr. Babatunde Soyoye as an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Company. Mr. Soyoye is a seasoned professional with over thirty-three (33) years’ work experience, thirty (30) of which have been spent in investment/financial advisory services. He is the co-founder and Managing Partner of Helios Investment Partners LLP. a private investment firm with its principal office in the United Kingdom, formed to pursue alternative asset class investments in Sub-Saharan Africa, specializing in investment in companies, growth capital for private enterprises, restructurings, joint ventures, startups and structured investments. Mr. Soyoye’s appointment has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (“CBN”).
Commenting on the appointment, Mr. Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company said, “We are pleased to welcome Mr. Babatunde Soyoye to the Board. His extensive experience in strategic investment, combined with a strong track record of driving growth across sectors, makes him a valuable addition. We are confident that his insights and guidance will significantly enrich the Board’s deliberations and contribute meaningfully to the Company’s long-term success”.
These changes reinforce GTCO’s commitment to strong corporate governance, diversity, and board effectiveness in alignment with applicable regulatory requirements and global best practices.
