Home News How Super Banker, SEGUN AGBAJE Runs GTBank

How Super Banker, SEGUN AGBAJE Runs GTBank

by City People
Segun Agbaje, GTB,

•Meet His Board Members & Management Team

Many people know about a bank called GTbank. It is one of the top 5 banks in Nigeria. But many people don’t know the handsome guy who runs this 30-year-old bank. This is because Mr. Segun Agbaje the tall and lanky MD/CEO is not your run of the mill banker who loves the celebrity image. Noo. He is a very conservative professional banker who is good at what he does for a living.

There is no doubting the fact that he is a damn good CEO, for he has grown the bank remarkably, from when he took over from the late MD of GTB, Mr Tayo Aderinokun. With over 25 Investment and International banking experience, Segun Agbaje is involved in the general management of the Bank’s day-to-day operations and has earned a reputation as a truly accomplished and highly respected professional within the West Africa sub-region, given his diverse experience in the financial services industry.

Prior to joining Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, he had worked with Ernst & Young, San Francisco, United States of America (USA). He subsequently joined Guaranty Trust Bank as a pioneer staff in 1991 and rose through the ranks to become an Executive Director in January 2000, and Deputy Managing Director in August 2002, in light of his diverse background and experience in almost all areas of the Bank’s activities including Commercial Banking, Investment Banking, Treasury, Corporate Planning and Strategy, Settlements and Operations.

He possesses a deep understanding of the Nigerian business environment having initiated and led the execution of large, innovative and complex transactions in Financial Advisory, Structured and Project Finance, Balance Sheet Restructuring and Debt and Equity Capital raising in several sectors of the Nigerian economy notably Oil and Gas, Energy, Telecommunications, Financial Services and Manufacturing industries. In addition, he helped in developing the Interbank Derivatives market amongst dealers in the Nigerian banking industry and introduced the Balance Sheet Management Efficiency system.

He was also very instrumental in putting together Guaranty Trust Bank’s Landmark USD350million Eurobond offering in 2007 and later that year, the listing of its US$750 million Global Depository Receipts (GDR) in an unprecedented concurrent global offering in the domestic and international capital markets – which made Guaranty Trust Bank the first Nigerian company and first bank in Sub-Saharan Africa to be listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. In 2011, he further led the Bank to launch the first Sub-Saharan Africa financial sector benchmark Eurobond when the Bank launched its USD500 million Eurobond without a Sovereign Guarantee or Credit Enhancement from any international financial institution.

He serves on the boards of several other notable companies including Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank (Gambia) Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank (UK) Limited and also a Director on MasterCard Advisory Board Middle East and Africa.

He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School and holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of San Francisco, USA.

He was appointed the acting Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in April 2011, and as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer on June 22, 2011.

Segun Agbaje runs GTBank with a team of experienced and competent professionals like Mrs. Osaretun Demuren, who is the Chairman of the board. Mrs. Demuren holds a Masters of Science Degree in Economics and Statistics from Moscow Institute of Economics and Statistics, Moscow, and a Diploma in Russian Language and Preliminary Studies from Kiev State University, Kiev. She is a member of many professional associations.

She had a successful career with the Central Bank of Nigeria which spanned over thirty-three 33 years, during which she served as Director, Trade and Exchange Department and was deployed to serve as the Director, Human Resource Department, a position which she held until her retirement from the Central Bank of Nigeria in December, 2009. She was the first female Director of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

She is an alumnus of several local and international training programs on Management, Banking, Finance, Trade and Investment at institutions such as the Michigan Ross Business School, Detroit and Institut Europeen d’ Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) Business School Fontainebleau, France.

Mrs. Demuren joined the Board of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in April, 2013.

There is also Engineer Adeola who is a non-executive director. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering (1975) from University of Lagos, and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering Hydraulics (1978) from Imperial College, London. Engr. Adeola is the founder and pioneer Managing Director of Comprehensive Project Management Services Ltd (CPMS), a firm of project managers.

He is also a Pioneer in the Project Management Industry in Nigeria. He has managed a wide variety of projects in the construction industry, with over (36) thirty-six years experience in Engineering Consultancy in various fields including Structural Design, Water and Wastewater Management, Housing Development and Construction, Training, Facilities Management and Project Management. Engr. Adeola has written several books such as “Engineering is Development”, “Our Collective Responsibility” etc., and presented several technical papers at Conferences. He was a member of FIDIC Executive Council (2003-2007) and a former President of The Association of Consulting Engineers, Nigeria, ACEN, (2008-2010).

He joined the Board on April 22, 2010.

Mr. Olabode Mubasheer Agusto is also a non executive director obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from University of Lagos in 1977. Mr Agusto became an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria in 1981 and a Fellow of the same association in 1991. He has over 35 years work experience in various organisations including UTC Motors Limited, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Nigeria International Bank Limited (now Citibank Nigeria Limited). He is the founder of Agusto & Co. Limited, which is the first credit rating agency licensed by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Nigeria.

In 2003, President Obasanjo appointed him his Director-General/Adviser (Budget Matters) and a member of his Economic Team during his second term in office (2003-2007). He also held various public positions during this period including non-Executive Director, National Pension Commission (2005 to 2007), Member, Central Bank of Nigeria Monetary Policy Committee (2006 to 2007).

Mr Agusto was a non-Executive Director of Shell Nigeria Closed Pension Fund from 2009 to 2013. Currently, he serves as a non-Executive Director on the Board of Agusto & Co. Limited and a member of several professional bodies. Mr Agusto is a recipient of the national honour of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic. He is also an independent researcher and consultant. His research interests cover the Economics, Politics and Banking of the key countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr. Agusto joined the Board of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in April 2010.

There is also Ibrahim Hassan. He is a non-executive director. He is a  Petroleum Geologist, Mr. Hassan holds a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree in Geology (1992) from Federal University of Technology, Yola, Adamawa State, and a Master of Science degree in Oil and Gas Enterprise Management (2005) from University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom. He is an experienced Economic Analyst with over 21 years work experience in the Oil and Gas industry with various multi-disciplinary oil and gas service companies. He is an alumnus of Lagos Business School Executive Program (SMP – Senior Management Programme). Mr. Hassan is currently the Managing Director and CEO of Summit Energy Limited.

Mr. Hezekiah Oyinlola is also a non-executive director. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree (B.Sc) in Accounting (First Class Hons.) from University of Ghana, Legon (1979) and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Stanford University, Graduate School of Business, Stanford, United States of Amercia (U.S.A). He is a seasoned professional with over thirty 30 years work experience in the Oil and Gas industry, having worked with Schlumberger Group from 1984 till June 2016. He has at various times served in management capacity, including being the first Nigerian Managing Director of Schlumberger Group in Nigeria and rose through the ranks to Vice President & Group Treasurer and later to become the Chairman Africa, Schlumberger Group, a position he has held from 2011 till his retirement in June 2016.

He joined the Board on April 24, 2014.

Ms. Imoni Akpofure is also a non-Executive Director. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng Honors) degree in Civil Engineering (1988) from Imperial College, University of London, United Kingdom, a Masters of Science Degree (M.Sc) in Environmental Engineering (1989) from Newcastle University, United Kingdom. She also obtained a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from INSEAD, France.

She is a seasoned professional with over eighteen 18 years work experience in the financial industry, having worked with International Finance Corporation from 1995 till 2013, where she rose through the ranks to become the Director, Western Europe, a position she held from 2009 till her retirement in 2013. Ms. Akpofure also serves as a member of other boards in several companies.She joined the Board on October, 2015.

There is also Mr. Babatunde Soyoye who holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical Engineering from Kings College, University of London, London, England (1991) and a Masters in Business Administration from Imperial College London, England (1995).

Mr. Soyoye is a seasoned professional with over twenty-four (24) years work experience, twenty-one (21) of which has 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.

Prior to co-founding Helios Investment Partners, Mr. Soyoye was responsible for Telecoms & Media investments across Europe for TPG Capital. He served as a senior member of the Corporate Strategy team at British Telecom, and manager of business development at Singapore Telecom International.Mr. Soyoye has played a key role in the execution of over $3 billion of investments across Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.Mr. Soyoye joined the Board on July 27, 2016.

There is  Mrs. Victoria Osondu Adefala who holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree (1987) from University of Lagos, Lagos State, Nigeria and a Master’s degree in International Law (LL.M) from University of Houston Bates Law School, Houston, Texas. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1988.

She is a seasoned professional with over 24 years’ work experience in diverse industries including Manufacturing, Finance and Transportation as well as the Legal profession, having worked with the African Chamber of Commerce, Houston, Texas, Michelin Nigeria Limited and Alstom Nigeria.

She served as the Country President and Managing Director of Alstom Nigeria up till 2016. Prior to working at Alstom, Mrs. Victoria Osondu Adefala was an Executive Director at Michelin Nigeria Limited, and sits on the Board of both local and international companies.Mrs. Victoria Osondu Adefala is the Managing Partner of WHITGIFT Law Firm.She joined the Board in September 2017.

Demola Odeyemi is an Executive Director. He is a Chartered Accountant (Fellow), graduate member of Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers of Nigeria, and a Chartered member of the Institute of Taxation in Nigeria. He holds a First Class Honours first degree (B.Ed) in Social Studies from Obafemi Awolowo University, a Masters Degree in Tests, Measurement and Statistics which he finished with a distinction average, and a Doctorate Degree in Tests, Measurement and Statistics from the same university.

He joined Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in 1997 and later worked with First City Monument Bank as Head of Financial Control and Strategy, and Chief Operating Officer for four (4) companies in the FCMB Capital Markets Group in 2002. He later returned to Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in 2003. He serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank (United Kingdom) Limited, Guaranty Trust Bank (Liberia) Limited. He is also a Non-Executive Director on the Boards of Sokoa Chair Centre Limited and 3 Peat Investment Limited, all companies in which the Bank has investments under the Small and Medium Industries Equity Investments (SMIEI) Scheme.

Mr. Odeyemi is currently responsible for International Banking, and the Strategy and Group Coordination of the Bank’s subsidiaries.

He joined the Board on October 19, 2011.

Mr Haruna Musa is also an ED. He has over 23 years experience which spans through Retail & Commercial Banking and Public Sector. He joined the Bank in 2001 and rose through the ranks to become an Assistant General Manager and Group Head Public Sector, North East Division in 2006. He left the Bank briefly in 2008 to pursue his Masters Degree in Finance and Management at Cranfield University, United Kingdom, after which he returned in 2009.

He holds a Bachelors’ Degree in Agriculture from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1991), a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Bayero University Kano (1998) and a Masters Degree in Finance and Management from Cranfield University, United Kingdom (2009).

Musa is currently the Head of the North-East Division of the Bank.

He joined the Board of Directors on October, 2015.

Mr. Bolaji Lawal is also an ED. He attended Kings’ College, Lagos. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, (1990), professional certification of B.L from Nigerian Law School (1991) and a Masters of Business Administration from Oxford University, United Kingdom (2002). He has also attended several executive management and banking programs in leading institutions such as Citibank School of Banking, New York; Venture Capital Institute, Atlanta; Harvard Business School, Boston, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford, California and Institut Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD).

He joined the Bank in 1992 as an executive trainee within the Credit Risk Management Group. In 1995, he was redeployed to the Oil & Gas Team as Relationship Officer in Lagos, and subsequently as Relationship Manager, Oil & Gas, Port Harcourt, Rivers State. From Port Harcourt, he was part of the project team that set up and thereafter managed GTBank’s first branch in Warri, Delta State between 1998 and 2000.

He has over 24 years of broad and in-depth banking experience covering Corporate Banking, Commercial Banking, Credit Risk Management and Investment Banking.

He also worked as Relationship Manager, Institutional Banking Group in Kano State. In 2003, he was appointed Group Head, Corporate Finance, wherein he led the Bank’s core execution and advisory team that worked on several landmark debt syndications, capital markets and project finance transactions within the Nigerian Banking Sector.

Mr. Lawal is currently the Divisional Head, Digital Banking Division in the Bank.

He joined the Board of Directors on March 17, 2017.

Mrs. Miriam Onidiebule Olusanya is also an ED. She  has over 20 years banking experience that cuts across Transaction Services, Asset and Liability Management, Financial Markets, Corporate Finance and Investor Relations.

She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from University of Ibadan (1995) and a Master of Business Administration (Finance and Accounting) from University of Liverpool (2011). She has also attended several Executive Management and banking specific developmental programs in leading educational institutions.

Mrs. Olusanya is the Group Treasurer and Head, Wholesale Banking Division of the Bank. She also serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Board of Guaranty Trust Bank (Gambia)

She joined the Bank as an Executive Trainee and rose through the ranks to become a General Manager, a position she held until her appointment as Executive Director.

Jide Okuntola is also an ED. His banking experience spans through Transaction Services, Financial Control and Oil and Gas. He is responsible for managing the Bank’s Oil and Gas portfolio covering the Upstream, Midstream and Downstream subsectors of the Oil and Gas industry.

Mr. Okuntola holds a Bachelor of Economics degree from Lagos State University and a Master of Business Administration (Petroleum and Energy Economics) from European-American University. He has attended a number of executive management and banking specific programs in leading educational institutions.

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