Kenny Ezenwani Odogwu has stepped down as Group Chairman of Royal Exchange Plc, marking a glorious exit after 28 years on the board and 18 years at the helm.
Odogwu leaves a revitalised institution, ready for continued growth alongside Rex Insurance Ltd and its other subsidiaries.
During his time in charge, Royal Exchange Plc tackled tough macroeconomic hurdles and transformed into a diversified financial services group, moving away from its composite insurance roots as REAN to become a holding company with interests in insurance, finance, and healthcare. Under Odogwu’s leadership, governance improved, talent was nurtured, and the company secured its strong position in the Nigerian market.
Looking back on his legacy, Odogwu voiced pride in Royal Exchange Plc’s lasting brand strength and energy. As Nigeria’s oldest insurance company, the group has 108 years of history and leadership across various segments of the financial industry. In 2007, it was one of the first in the country to adopt a group holding structure, aligning with its vision to become a sort of one-stop financial hub. Backed by a strong shareholder base and capable management team, the company remains optimistic about its growth prospects.
Ikeme Osakwe has stepped in as the new Group Chairman, taking over the reins with confidence. The refreshed board features a stellar team of seasoned professionals, including Pamela Yough, Afolabi Caxton-Martins, Ezekiel Onilude, Anthony Idigbe SAN, Senator Sanusi Mohammed Daggash, and Idu Okeahialam, the MD/CEO.
Ikeme Osakwe, a retired financial management specialist with experience in both the public and private sectors, has been on several boards and is currently a board member of Oando Plc.
Anthony Idigbe, SAN, is a Senior Partner at Punuka Attorneys & Solicitors and is also active in consultancy, business, and human capital development through Punuka Consulting Inc., its Canadian affiliate. He serves on the boards of Ikeja Hotel Plc and PZ Cussons Plc.
Senator Mohammed Daggash is an architect by profession, with expertise in project management, consultancy, development planning, and public finance management. He currently serves as Chairman of Shuwari Industries Limited and Shuwari Farms Limited.
Pamela Mimi Yough is a banker, financial consultant, and investment advisor with over 35 years in the financial sector. She was the immediate past MD/CEO of Zenith Bank (UK) Limited, a position she held from June 2017 to October 2021.
Afolabi Caxton-Martins is the founding partner of Dentons ACAS-Law (formerly ACAS-Law), established in 1991, where he advises on a wide range of Nigerian and international cross-border corporate finance transactions, private M&A, joint ventures, and infrastructure/Public-Private Partnership projects.
Ezekiel Onilude is a Chartered Accountant and Senior Account Manager at Punuka Attorneys and Solicitors. He’s an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation, holds a Cert-IFR from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK), is an Associate Member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (US), and belongs to the International Association of Risk and Compliance Professionals (US).
Idu Okeahialam is a pension expert and a Certified Compliance and Ethics Professional (CCEP-I). Her career spans fund management, compliance and risk management, and customer service in banking, financial institutions, and the energy sector. She currently serves as the Managing Director and CEO of Royal Exchange Plc.
