Nnamdi Okonkwo is the Group Managing Director (GMD) of FBN Holdings Plc (the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria Limited and other subsidiaries). His work experience spans over thirty two (32) years of focused and results-oriented local and international banking.
Before joining FBN Holdings, Nnamdi was the Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank Plc from January 2014 to December 2020. He had previously served as the Executive Director for Southern Nigeria in Fidelity Bank. During his tenure as the CEO, the institution witnessed series of significant transformations, one of which was the bank’s meteoric rise from mid-table to the leading Tier 2 Bank in Nigeria and also enhanced its top ranking among banks in Africa.
It was during his seven-year service at the helm that the bank also successfully accessed the local and international markets through the issuance of Corporate bonds and Eurobonds, alongside other key transformational and financial growth achievements.
Nnamdi joined Fidelity Bank from United Bank of Africa Plc (UBA) after an 8 year career journey. He was, at various times, Regional Director (FCT, Nigeria), Regional Bank Head (Lagos Mainland) Head Conglomerates (Corporate Banking Division)
On the International banking sphere, he was the Regional CEO covering the West African Monetary Zone for United Bank for Africa (UBA Plc) overseeing the Group’s operations in Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, a role he combined with being the substantive Managing Director/CEO of UBA Ghana. He joined Fidelity bank in 2012, upon returning to Nigeria.
Mr. Okonkwo has a rich Corporate Board experience having served as Director at various times in UBA Ghana, UBA Sierra Leone, UBA Liberia, Nigeria Interbank Settlement Scheme (NIBSS), Unified Payment Systems Limited (UPSL) and Nigeria e-Government Strategy (Negst). He also chaired the Shareholders Audit Committee of FMDQ.
Nnamdi’s career, which started at Merchant Bank of Africa Limited, in 1990, saw him traverse the banking space and gaining preparatory/leadership experience in leading financial institutions which includes Guaranty Trust Bank (Now GTCO) and FSB International Bank.
He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Fellow Chartered Institute of Credit Administration. He also chaired the Mentoring Advisory Committee of CIBN and was a two-term Vice President of the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce.
He holds a B.Agric. degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Benin, Nigeria and MBA (Banking and Finance) from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Nigeria. He is also a graduate of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of INSEAD. Mr. Okonkwo has attended Executive Management and Board training programmes at Harvard Business School, Stanford University, Wharton Business School, IMD, Singapore, IESE Business School, University of Nevara, Barcelona, Spain, Kellogs Business School, USA. Nnamdi has been honoured with many awards and recognitions globally. He is a globally recognized thought leader on banking and finance, and highly reputed as one of the few African bank CEOs to be invited as guest speaker at the Investor Conference of major global banks.
