The Nigerian Exchange Group Plc. (NGX Group) has appointed Mr. Temi Popoola as its Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (GMD/CEO) -designate effective January 1, 2024.

Also, Mr. Jude Chiemeka has been appointed as the Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX), also effective January 1, 2024.

Ms Obehi Ikhaghe, the Group’s Company Secretary, disclosed this in a statement made available on Friday in Lagos.

Ikhaghe said that both appointments were subject to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) formal approval.

The company secretary explained that the current GMD/CEO of the NGX Group, Mr Oscar Onyema, would complete his tenure on March 31, 2024.

She, however, noted that ahead of this, he would embark on his terminal leave effective January 1, 2024.

Commenting, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, Chairman, NGX Group Plc, expressed delight on the pivotal changes in the leadership of the NGX Group, describing it as a testament to effective succession plan.

Kwairanga expressed confidence in Popoola’s capability to successfully continue the legacy of Onyema to take NGX Group to greater heights.

Naira exchanges at N1,043 against dollar at FX market

Popoola, in his comment, said that he is stepping into the new role at NGX Group Plc. with a deep sense of responsibility and enthusiasm.

He extended his appreciation to Onyema, for his exceptional leadership during his tenure and to the Board of Directors for the confidence reposed in him.

According to him, the modernisation of the Nigerian market infrastructure space and the demutualisation and restructuring of NSE under Onyema’s guidance have been instrumental in shaping the NGX Group.

Popoola began his career in London as a portfolio manager focused on African energy markets and worked for several years as a senior equity derivatives trader with Bank of America Securities in New York.

He drove firms’ profitability by providing derivative solutions to US corporations and family offices.

A Wall Street-trained investment banker, Popoola joined NGX in 2021 as CEO from Renaissance Capital (Rencap) where he was the Managing Director and CEO for West Africa.

Popoola graduated with a First-Class degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Lagos and holds a Masters’ degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and a Chartered Stockbroker (CIS).

Chiemeka is currently the Executive Director of Capital Markets responsible for Trading, Products Development and Listings at NGX and a member of NGX Executive Committee chaired by Popoola.

He has over 29 years’ experience in Securities Trading and Asset Management across markets in Africa.

Prior to joining NGX, he was the MD/CEO of United Capital Securities, a subsidiary of United Capital Plc listed on NGX.

He is a Fellow and Council Member of the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (FCS), Member of the Institute of Directors (IOD), Fellow of the Association of Investment Advisers and Portfolio Managers and an Associate of the Certified Pension Institute of Nigeria.

He is also an alumnus of the University of Lagos, Lagos Business School and the University of Oxford, UK.

The Star