FBNBank Ghana, a subsidiary of First Bank of Nigeria, has announced the appointment of Victor Yaw Asante as its new Managing Director following the Bank of Ghana’s approval.
Mr. Asante replaces Gbenga Odeyemi, who served in this capacity and has moved on to become the Managing Director of FBNBank Sierra Leone.
Victor joins the FBNBank team as the first Ghanaian to be appointed as Managing Director. He brings to this leadership position a rich banking experience spanning over 20 years.
Prior to his appointment, the new MD was Head of Corporate and Institutional Banking with oversight responsibility for Commercial Banking Business at First National Bank Ghana, a subsidiary of the First Rand Group of South Africa.
He also worked with the Standard Chartered Bank Group, serving variously as the bank’s Managing Director and Head of Corporate and Institutional Clients at its Botswana subsidiary, and as Managing Director and Regional Head of Transaction Banking – based in Ghana with additional responsibilities over other West African countries including Cameroun, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia and Sierra Leone.
Victor has had stints with Merchant Bank (now Universal Merchant Bank) and Unilever Ghana Limited, both of which gave him hands-on experience with strategic knowledge in banking and in business generally.
Commenting on his appointment, Victor said: “I am humbled by the confidence reposed in me to head FBNBank Ghana Limited at a time when the organisation has recapitalised its Ghana business and rolled out its digital banking strategy, which aims to leverage new and evolving technologies to facilitate access to everyday financial services for consumers and businesses alike.
“My utmost priority is to endear the brand to our stakeholders in the Ghanaian market and use all available means to make the brand a mark of excellence by meeting the needs of our valued customers, to the extent that FBNBank becomes the preferred bank,” he added. The new FBNBank Ghana MD expressed his desire to ensure attainment of the bank’s set goals.
“There could not have been a more opportune time for me to assume the reins of leadership and help implement the growth agenda of FBNBank, at a time when the banking industry is evolving,” Victor stated.
Victor holds an MBA from the University of Ghana Business School, and a Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Agricultural Economics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK who have been trained at very notable organisations and attended programmes like the Rand Merchant Bank Lead Programme and INSEAD Singapore, among others.
An amateur golfer and scrabble player, Victor Yaw Asante is also a humanitarian who is the past Club President and past Assistant Governor of Rotary International.
Commenting on the appointment of the new FBNBank Ghana MD, Victor Asante, the Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Limited & Subsidiaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan said: “Victor’s demonstration of excellent technical skills, knowledge, experience and his leadership capabilities contributed in no small measure to his appointment”.
He was convinced that Victor Asante was very well placed to provide strategic leadership that the bank needs to continue on its trajectory of becoming the clear leader and Ghana’s bank of first choice.
