In bid to further diversify its board, strengthen its leadership team, and as part of its innovative journey, the board of NOVA Bank Limited, at the weekend announced the appointment of Dr. David Isiavwe and Mrs. Chinwe Iloghalu as Executive Directors.
Recall that the bank recently transitioned from merchant to national commercial banking,
With a Ph.D. in Accounting, Isiavwe who has over 30 years of experience in domestic and international banks, according to a statement by NOVA resumes as ED, Operations and Information Technology; while his counterpart will oversee the Institutional and Commercial Banking business.
Dr. Isiavwe, a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Compliance Institute of Nigeria (FCIN), who was until now General Manager and head of Operations & Technology at Ecobank Nigeria, also parades other professional certifications such as Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Certified Information Security Manager (CISM). He is also a Certified Governance of Enterprise IT (CGEIT), Certified Information System Auditor (CISA), Certified Data Privacy Solutions Engineer (CDPSE) amongst others, has attended leadership programs in some major global institutions such as Harvard Business School, MIT and Oxford University.
He currently serves as the President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Information Security Society of Africa, Nigeria (ISSAN), and holds a position on the Governing Council of the Fintech Association of Nigeria. Additionally, he chairs the Statutory Audit Committee of Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS).
His appointment, the statement added, “underscores NOVA’s focus on digital transformation, with his vast experience playing a crucial role in advancing the Bank’s technology-driven phygital model.”
Iloghalu who was last year appointed ED, Lagos and Corporate Banking at Polaris Bankfrom Fidelity Bank Plc where she was GM and Regional Bank head, also boasts of almost three decades of experience in the banking industry. During the period, she made significant contributions in business and corporate banking, with expertise spanning sectors such as energy, corporate, commercial and digital banking, where she has consistently created sustainable value and returns for key stakeholders.
A Fellow of the Institute of Credit Administration (FICA), she holds an MSc in Media and Communications, along with an MBA, and has attended leadership and executive programmes in key institutions such as Said Business School Oxford, Harvard Business School, Wharton amongst others. Her role will be central to enhancing NOVA’s commercial banking rollout across all key business development segments.
Commenting on the new appointments, Phillips Oduoza, Chairman of NOVA Bank said the appointment of both top executives “marks a critical point in constituting the management team that will lead NOVA into its next phase of growth. David’s expertise in technology will be key in enhancing our phygital model, while Chinwe’s strong business drive and relationship management coupled with the retail and product engine of the bank will be instrumental in driving the bank’s strategic intent to become a formidable player in the banking industry.”
Their deep understanding of digital and electronic banking, he believes, “will significantly contribute to our trademarked phygital experience, which seamlessly combines the best of in-person service and bespoke digital solutions to serve our customers. Both leaders bring valuable experience that aligns perfectly with NOVA’s vision to be Africa’s preferred financial solutions provider.”
