Polaris Bank has announced the addition of two esteemed professionals to its executive leadership team.
Chinwe Iloghalu has joined the bank as the Executive Director for Lagos and Corporate Banking, while Martins Izuogbe assumes the role of Executive Director for Service and Technology.
The appointments mark a significant milestone in Polaris Bank’s refreshed strategy, which emphasizes technology and service as crucial pillars for growth. The strategy has already yielded positive outcomes, with increased deposits, an expanded product lineup, and improved service efficiencies contributing to enhanced performance.
The new management team is dedicated to positioning the bank for strong competition in Nigeria’s dynamic financial services ecosystem, and additional appointments will be made to further strengthen the leadership team in due course.
The MD/CEO of Polaris Bank, Adekunle Sonola,expressed his satisfaction with the new appointments, stating, “I am delighted to welcome Chinwe and Martins to the executive leadership team during this exciting period for Polaris Bank. Both bring extensive experience in the Nigerian banking sector, with impressive track records in corporate banking, innovation, and technology, which are integral to our strategy. As we set ambitious growth targets for the coming years, I have full confidence that we have assembled the right management team to achieve those goals. I look forward to collaborating with Chinwe and Martins in the months and years ahead.”
Chinwe Iloghalu, ED, Lagos and Corporate Banking: Chinwe is a seasoned banker with over 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to joining Polaris Bank, she served as the General Manager/Regional Head at Fidelity Bank, overseeing operations in Lagos and demonstrating extensive expertise across the digital and electronic banking landscape.
Martins Izuogbe, ED Service and Technology: Martins brings 25 years of banking experience to his role at Polaris Bank, all of which were spent at Fidelity Bank. Before his appointment, he served as the Regional Bank Head for Apapa. Martins has dedicated a significant part of his career to operations and IT leadership roles, and he brings valuable knowledge to his position, where he will lead the service and technology function.
As a result of these appointments, Segun Opeke (ED Lagos and Corporate Banking) and Abdullahi Mohammed (ED North) will conclude their tenure on the management team. Both executives played vital roles in stabilizing Polaris Bank after the transition from Skye Bank, effectively contributing to the bank’s return to profitability.
Expressing his gratitude for their contributions to the transition, Adekunle Sonola stated, “I would like to extend my appreciation to Segun and Abdullahi for their invaluable assistance, support, and guidance over the past six months. Since the acquisition of Polaris Bank by SCIL, they have been instrumental in the transition process, supporting the new board and CEO in building upon the strong foundation they have established.”
Remember that Polaris Bank Established in 2018, Polaris Bank provides commercial banking services to the Nigerian public. With a widespread presence of over 253 branches throughout the country, the bank prides itself on delivering exceptional customer experiences while leveraging state-of-the-art Information Communication Technology (ICT). Polaris Bank plays a pivotal role in the Nigerian banking industry by focusing on ICT solutions across various service delivery channels such as mobile banking, ATMs, POS, and online platforms. The bank remains committed to providing customers with simple, convenient, and secure banking services.