Access Holdings Plc (NGX: ACCESSCORP) has confirmed the death of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, CFR, the Company’s founding Group Chief Executive Officer and former Group Managing Director of its flagship subsidiary Access Bank Plc.
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The financial services holding company in a regulatory filing on Sunday seen by Investogist wrote, “It is with deep sadness that the Board of Directors of Access Holdings Plc (‘the Company’) announces the passing of Dr. Herbert Wigwe, CFR, the Company’s founding Group Chief Executive Officer and former Group Managing Director of its flagship subsidiary Access Bank Plc (‘the Bank’). Dr. Wigwe died alongside his wife and son on Friday, February 9, 2024 in a helicopter accident in the United States of America.”
“The entire Access Family mourns the loss of Herbert, Doreen and Chizi. We extend our deep and sincere sympathies to his family and loved ones. Dr. Wigwe was a key driving force and a larger-than-life personality who brought his remarkable passion, energy, and experience to the transformation of the Access franchise since joining the Bank in 2002.”
Investogist reported that Dr. Wigwe, his wife and son were amongst six passengers in a helicopter that crashed in the United States late Friday. The crash happened in the State of California, near the Nevada border.
According to the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Eurocopter EC130 helicopter crashed around 10 p.m local time near Nipton, Calif, an unincorporated community approximately 60 miles south of Las Vegas in eastern San Bernardino County.
Commenting on the passage of Dr. Wigwe, Mr. Abubakar Jimoh, Chairman of Access Holdings 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.”
Dr. Jimoh went further to say “that the Board will soon announce the appointment of an Acting Group Chief Executive Officer” even as they remain confident that the Access Group will build further on Dr. Wigwe’s legacy of growth and operational excellence.
Nnamdi Maduakor is a Writer, Investor and Entrepreneur
