Odogwu bids farewell to Royal Exchange Plc

Kenny Ezenwani Odogwu has stepped down as Group Chairman of Royal Exchange Plc, owners of Rex Insurance Ltd and its other subsidiaries. With 28 years on the board and 18 years at the helm, Odogwu leaves behind a transformed institution poised for continued growth.

During his tenure, Royal Exchange Plc navigated complex macroeconomic challenges to emerge as a diversified financial services group, shedding its composite insurance skin then known as REAN to become a holding company with interests in insurance, finance, and healthcare. Odogwu’s leadership strengthened governance, developed talent, and cemented the company’s position in the Nigerian market.

Reflecting on his legacy, Odogwu expressed pride in Royal Exchange Plc’s enduring brand strength and dynamism. As the oldest insurance company in Nigeria, the group boasts 108 years of insurance history and leadership across the segments of the financial industry. It was amongst the first companies in Nigeria to adopt a group holding structure in 2007 in line with its strategy to become something akin to a one-stop financial mall. The company remains confident in its growth prospects, underpinned by a solid shareholder base and strong management team.

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The baton has been passed to Ikeme Osakwe who takes the reins as Group Chairman. The new board lineup includes experienced professionals, Pamela Yough, Afolabi Caxton-Martins, Ezekiel Onilude, Anthony Idigbe SAN, Sanusi Mohammed Daggash, and Idu Okeahialam (MD/CEO).

Osakwe is a retired public and private sector financial management specialist. He has held many board appointments and currently serves on the boards of Oando Plc.

Idigbe, SAN is a Senior Partner at Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors. He is also involved with consultancy, business and human capital development through its Canadian Affiliate, Punuka Consulting Inc. He currently sits on the board of Ikeja Hotel Plc and PZ Cussons Plc.

Daggash is an Architect by profession, specializing in project management, consultancy, development planning and public finance management. He is presently the Chairman of Shuwari Industries Limited and Shuwari Frams Limited.

Yough is a Banker, Financial Consultant and Investment Advisor with over 35 years of experience in the Financial Sector. She was the immediate past MD/ CEO of Zenith Bank (UK) Limited in which she served from June 2017 to October 2021.

Caxton-Martins is the Founding Partner, Dentons ACAS-Law (formerly ACAS-Law), a law firm founded in 1991 where he advises on a broad range of Nigeria and international cross-border corporate finance transactions, private M&A, joint ventures, and infrastructure/Public-Private Partnership arrangements.

Read also: Royal Exchange repositions for growth with stronger bottom-line

Onilude is a Chartered Accountant and Senior Account Manager in the law firm of Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors. He is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, Cert-IFR Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), Associate member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (US) and a member of International Association of Risk and Compliance Professionals (US).

Okeahialam is a pension guru and a certified compliance and ethics professional (CCEP-I). Her experience spans across funds management, compliance and risk management and customer services in the Banking and Financial Institutions as well as the Energy Sector. She is currently the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Royal Exchange Plc.