The Board of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) today announced the appointment of Mr. Tony O. Elumelu, C.O.N. as Chairman, succeeding Ambassador Joe Keshi.
Mr. Elumelu is Chairman/CEO of Heirs Holdings, the pan-African proprietary investment company, founded by Mr. Elumelu in 2010, which holds stakes in a number of leading African businesses, including Transcorp, Nigeria's largest listed conglomerate by market capitalization, as well as UBA.
Elumelu retired as Group Managing Director and CEO of UBA in 2010, following
the introduction by the Central Bank of Nigeria of 10-year tenure limits for bank CEOs. He had served as CEO of the UBA Group for 13 years, where he was responsible for the creation of today's UBA, a financial services institution that built a reputation for innovation and the democratisation of banking services and now spans Africa, providing services to more than 10 million customers, across the continent and in London, Paris and New York.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential business leaders in Africa, Elumelu has developed a reputation for identifying value and bringing a long term investment orientation and discipline to sectors critical to Africa's development, including financial services, power, oil and gas, agribusiness, real estate and hospitality. As the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, an Africa-based and African-funded philanthropy, Mr. Elumelu is committed to the promotion of entrepreneurship in Africa, based on his championing of Africapitalism, the philosophy that the African private sector is the critical enabler of the continent's economic and social transformation.
The Chairmanship of UBA will complement Mr. Elumelu's existing positions with other Heirs Holdings' portfolio businesses, including the Chairmanships of Tenoil Petroleum & Energy Services Limited and Seadrill Limited.
"Tony Elumelu's track record at UBA speaks for itself," said Mr. Phillips Oduoza, Group Managing Director/CEO UBA. "His return to the Board brings a depth of knowledge and experience in the African financial services industry that is second to none. We are privileged to have him lead the Board at this critical stage in our development."Analysts and leaders of shareholder groups also welcomed Mr. Elumelu's return..
