The succession tussle in one of Nigeria’s commercial banks is still taking a dramatic turn, with tongues wagging about who takes over eventually, at the expiration of the incumbent MD/CEO in few months’ time.
Just as speculations are becoming rife about her ascendancy as the next boss of Guaranty Trust Bank, in replacement of the outgoing MD/CEO of the bank, Segun Agbaje, Mrs. Miriam Olusanya is already ground-swelling to take over the mantle of leadership, all things being equal.
The internal bickering is so tough but enmeshed in cold tones that there are other contenders for the plum post. These stiff contenders, all directors of the bank, but not limited to Ademola Odeyemi, Bolaji Lawal, Haruna Musa, and Babajide Okuntola. Ab initio, the tussle had been between Miriam Olusanya and Bolaji Lawal; but recent developments are pointing in the direction of Mrs. Olusanya, who is believed to be the favourite of Agbaje.
Those in the know of happenings at the bank, say that if eventually Miriam succeeds Agbaje, it would have been a big conquest for Segun Agbaje, who is touted to be taking over the entire managerial dynasty from the original founders of the bank, Fola Adeola and late Tayo Aderionokun.
What makes the battle even more intense is that GTBank is currently without a substantive Deputy Managing Director, who would have easily stepped into the shoes of Agbaje. Banjo Adegboungbe, the former DMD, was appointed in February 2020 as the substantive MD/CEO of Coronation Merchant Bank, and he has not been replaced since then, which further threw the slot open to the executive directors.
The GTBank board is, however, said to be on the lookout for a candidate that possesses the grit, gut and genius of Agbaje, and never a lily-livered person. The board reportedly also wants an intrepid MD that can take on debtors without batting an eyelid or caring whose ox is gored. This is where Miriam comes in handy, given her sterling profile and credentials.
Regarded as a banker’s banker with a proactive and pragmatic approach to 21st Century banking, Mrs. Miriam Chidiebele Olusanya has over 20 years’ experience spanning Transaction Services, Treasury, Assets and Liability Management, Corporate Finance and Wholesale Banking. She joined GTBank in 1998 and has been in charge of managing its Naira and Foreign Currency Balance Sheet, Asset and Liability Position and Money Market, Foreign Currency and Bonds Trading. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Ibadan (1995) and a Master of Business Administration (Finance and Accounting) from the University of Liverpool (2011). She has attended many executive management and banking-specific programs in leading educational institutions abroad.
Many of her colleagues believe that she stands in good stead to succeed Agbaje. She does too; and the argument is that with the new wave of women taking up leadership positions in many banks, Miriam’s ascendancy at GTBank would be perfect if GTBank looks the way of Mrs. Olusanya as the new GMD/CEO, and a record-breaking achievement as the first female MD/CEO of the bank.
Additional Information: Thecapital.ng
