LEADING TRANSFORMATION FOR BUSINESS EXCELLENCE
A true embodiment of a relentless spirit, Mr. Segun Agbaje, the Group CEO of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc), Africa’s leading banking group, is an individual who pushes his limits to achieve any goal he sets for himself. The determined leader’s unending quest to improve himself has been his driving force.
“AT GUARANTY TRUST, WE TAKE OUR COMMITMENT TO CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (CSR) SERIOUSLY, IN THE SAME WAY, WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE OUR CUSTOMERS WITH WORLD-CLASS SERVICE AND CHAMPION THEIR AMBITIONS”
A seasoned executive with 30 years of investment, international banking, and commercial experience, Mr. Agbaje is counted amongst Africa’s most experienced CEOs. The well-versed leader holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration from the University of San Francisco, United States. He is also a Harvard Business School alumnus. It was always his dream to become a banker like his father; eventually he pursued accounting and never looked back.
WORKING HIS WAY TO THE TOP
In his three decades of experience in the financial sector, the leader has spent over half of his time in executive management positions. Before taking on his current role, Mr. Agbaje served as CEO and Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank. During his tenure with the Bank between June 2011 and July 2021, he steered the bank through a decade of unprecedented growth. Under his stellar leadership, the bank’s customer base grew from less than 3 million in 2011 to over 24 million by 2020 across 10 African countries and the UK. In July 2021, following GT Bank’s reorganization into a Holding Company Structure, the deserving leader was appointed the new Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, the new parent company of Guaranty Trust’s banking businesses. Mr. Agbaje’s deep expertise in credit and operational risk has made GTCO one of Nigeria’s most profitable banks. While driving the digital transformation of the organization, he has also been maintaining the growth of the Bank year over year. What’s more, the thought leader has played a key role in defining and implementing the milestones that have propelled GTCO to a new phase of growth enabling it to grow into an Omni faceted financial institution delivering benefits beyond banking.
A VALUE-DRIVEN LEADER
As a passionate innovator and a committed adapter of disruptive technologies, Mr. Agbaje is continually developing new ideas that provide Guaranty Trust customers with value beyond banking. In line with the linchpin’s direction, GTBank promotes enterprise in the SME sector by offering free business platforms such as the GTBank Food and Drink Fair and GTBank Fashion Weekend. Furthermore, he revolutionized consumer lending in Nigeria by launching Quick Credit, which gives individuals and small businesses low-interest loans instantly. “In performing our duties, we remain committed to the principles of corporate governance”, says the leader. He adds, “In accordance with legal and regulatory requirements, we have created a Code of Corporate Governance, which aligns with the company’s ethical, legal, and transparent behavior. Also, we ensure best-in-class compliance with the Securities and Exchange Commission Code of Corporate Governance for Public Companies, the Central Bank of Nigeria Code of Corporate Governance for Banks in Nigeria, and other relevant regulatory guidelines.” Additionally, the future-focused leader is eager to unlock new growth opportunities to take the bank to new heights. Following the success of GTCO’s wholesale and retail banking businesses, the company, under his leadership, is now creating multiple lines of income through new growth segments such as payment processing, money management, and pension fund administration.
LEADING WITH HEART & SOUL
Mr. Agbaje is a compassionate leader who is committed to working for the greater good of society. A vital part of his mission is to directly impact lives and uplift communities, especially those in marginalized communities. With his keen eye for driving digital innovations, he promotes enterprise and helps young people in Africa to make use of their creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and passion for unlocking the opportunities the continent abounds with. In the benevolent leader’s words, “No organization can succeed in the long term without recognizing its integral role in society. To this end, our CSR initiatives are built upon four pillars– education, community development, arts, and environmental protection, which we consider essential building blocks of a community and prerequisites to economic development.” He adds, “At Guaranty Trust, we take our commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility seriously, in the same way, we strive to provide our customers with world-class service and champion their ambitions.” He has also integrated sustainability strategies into the company’s business model, knowing that strong financial performance is linked to sustainability. Moreover, he and his team are also committed to improving Environmental & Social (E&S) processes to align with international best practices by investing in key sectors of the economy. Last but not least, in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak, Mr. Agbaje coordinated the establishment of a 110-bed COVID-19 care facility to accommodate patients infected with the coronavirus. The decisive and value-driven leader personally oversaw the project and made sure it was completed within five days. Moreover, he ensured the Bank led the industry in driving strategies right from the beginning of the pandemic for protecting employees, reassuring customers, and supporting the public sector. His commitment to leading from the front demonstrates the reason why, under his leadership, the Bank’s customers and communities have always felt connected to its brand.
FEATHERS IN HIS CAP
Over the years, Mr. Agbaje has been honoured with numerous prestigious awards for his outstanding leadership and performance. Some of the distinguished awards conferred on him include the African Banker of the Year Award by the African Banker Magazine, the Banker of the Year, Africa by the World Finance Magazine, and CEO of the Year at the Africa Investor Awards. In the course of his illustrious career, Mr. Agbaje has recorded many career highlights, including building one of Africa’s best-managed financial institutions and the largest bank in the continent’s biggest economy. The success of the company’s transition to a holding company structure, which Mr. Agbaje has spearheaded for 10 years, is the latest in a long list of Mr. Agbaje’s many historic accomplishments.
