Stanbic IBTC names Chukwuma Nwokocha as new CEO

By Sofiyyah Layole

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Chukwuma (Chuma) Nwokocha as the substantive Group Chief Executive of the company, effective October 2, 2025, after securing all necessary regulatory approvals.

His appointment brings to a close the tenure of Dr. Adekunle Adedeji, who has served as Acting Group Chief Executive since April. Dr. Adedeji will continue in his roles as Executive Director and Chief Finance and Value Management Officer of the company.

Announcing the leadership transition, the Chairman of Stanbic IBTC, Mrs. Sola David Borha, expressed the board’s confidence in Nwokocha, noting his extensive track record in governance, financial oversight and strategic transformation. She added that the Group was delighted to have a leader of his calibre take the helm at a time when the company is consolidating its growth agenda.

David Borha also commended Dr. Adedeji for his “exemplary leadership and dedication” during the interim period, highlighting that under his stewardship, the Group delivered its best financial performance since inception. He also successfully oversaw the completion of Stanbic IBTC’s Rights Issue Programme, ensuring that its banking subsidiary met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s recapitalisation requirement ahead of the March 31, 2026 deadline.

Nwokocha, a chartered accountant and seasoned banking executive, brings more than three decades of leadership experience across Africa to his new role. He has held several senior executive and board-level positions within the Standard Bank Group, including as Chief Executive of Standard Bank Mozambique, where he was credited with driving strategic growth, strengthening governance structures, and enhancing operational excellence. His expertise spans retail and corporate banking, mergers and acquisitions, and enterprise transformation.

In a statement, Stanbic IBTC said the appointment reflects its commitment to sustained growth and long term shareholder value, adding that Nwokocha’s leadership will be “instrumental in steering the Group forward.”