Search For Herbert Wigwe’s Replacement Begins As Access Holdings Chairman To Announce New GCEO

Access Holding Plc will soon announce the replacement of its Group Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, who died on Saturday alongside his wife, Doreen, and son, Chizi in a helicopter crash in US.

The development is coming a few hours after Access Bank confirmed the GCEO’s death via its verified X handle.

The Chairman of Access Holdings, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, made the disclosure in a regulatory filing obtained by THE WHISTLER on Sunday.

Jimoh said, “The Access Family has suffered a major loss with the passing of Dr. Wigwe who was a great friend and fine gentleman. He had a prodigious intellect, admirable personal qualities, and vast business experience, which he brought to bear on the Access Family, and for which we owe him a debt of gratitude.

“In line with the Company’s policy, the Board will soon announce the appointment of an Acting Group Chief Executive Officer even as we remain confident that the Access Group will build further on Dr. Wigwe’s legacy of growth and operational excellence.”

THE WHISTLER reports that the Board may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting to deliberate over Wigwe’s replacement.

This is based on the company’s governance structure which provides in emergencies as the death of Wigwe, “An Extraordinary General Meeting may also be convened at the request of the Board or Shareholders holding not less than 10 per cent of the Bank’s paid- up capital.”

THE WHISTLER had reported that the GCEO of Access Holdings boarded the helicopter, Eurocopter EC130, which crashed around 10 p.m local time near Nipton, Calif.

The location is an unincorporated community approximately 60 miles south of Las Vegas in eastern San Bernardino County, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

According to Mara Rodriguez, a public information officer with the department, officials from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were notified of the crash at 10:12 p.m. local time.