The board of United Bank for Africa Plc, on Tuesday, announced the appointments of Ayoku Liadi and Oliver Alawuba as Deputy Managing Directors in charge of its Nigeria and Africa businesses respectively.

Both positions, reporting to Group CEO, Kennedy Uzoka, the group said in a statement, represents further strategic recognition of the growth of its pan-African business, which now represents over 40% of gross revenue, and the critical importance of Nigeria, being its largest market.

Combined with UBA’s unique International Business, operating from New York, London and Paris, UBA Africa and Nigeria, offer an unparalleled service offering to clients across Africa and globally.

The board also announced the retirement Dan Okeke from the Board with effect from August 1, 2020, after 22 years with the group. 

Commenting on the appointments, Group Chairman Tony Elumelu recalled that  

“In 2005, we set out our pan-African vision.  Fifteen years later, we are present in 20 African countries, serving over 20 million clients, leveraging our service culture and technology platform, to provide an integrated and seamless customer offering across the continent. 

“In Africa, we lead in innovation and service, whilst our International Business, operating from New York, Paris and London, provides global and African clients access to treasury, trade finance and corporate banking products, uniquely tailored to the African opportunity.  These senior appointments represent our commitment to optimise our management structure to best serve our clients and drive our business success.”

With knowledge of the group’s business that is unrivalled, Alawuba who was appointed in January 2020 as CEO for the Group’s Africa operation has been with the UBA for almost 20 years. He previously held the role as CEO of UBA in Ghana and more recently, as Regional CEO for UBA in Anglophone Africa.

Liadi, who is widely recognised for his innovation in driving business development, joined the group in 2014 and was appointed the Executive Director of Lagos and West bank in Nigeria, two years later.

Okeke, who according to the Elumelu “was born for UBA,” served on the board as an Executive Director for three terms and a total of nine years, “has worked tirelessly for the Group and achieved so much in the past two decades. We will miss him, but he will still be very much around us.”