ATMC names new chairman, MD

The board of Nigeria’s premier Independent Automated Teller Machine (ATM) Deployer (IAD), ATM Consortium Limited (ATM-C) has named its new board chairman and managing director cum chief executive officer.

A press statement made available to ITRealms Online showed that the operator of QuickCash ATM Network has elevated its immediate past Vice-Chairman, Mr. Oladele Akinyemi to the post of chairman, even as the board approved the appointment of Mr. Olumide Bajomo as the new managing director.

These appointments, ITRealms Online gathered, took effect from January 5, 2010.
This, the company said, was made possible following the expiration of the term of the immediate past chairman, Mr. Adedotun Sulaiman.

ITRealms Online recalls that Mr. Akinyemi represents Diamond Bank, one of the company’s major shareholders where he serves as Executive Director, Customer Service & Technology. Prior to this appointment, he was a member of ATM-C’s board of directors since inception in 2004, and was appointed Vice-Chairman in 2008.

For the outgoing chairman, Mr. Sulaiman, it is delighting to welcome Mr. Akinyemi to chair the board at this critical time in the history of the company.

“His distinguished professional track record and unwavering commitment to actualization of the ATM-C vision combines well with a deep financial and technology services background. This appointment is timely, allowing him to participate fully and work closely with the new management in the ongoing restructuring, transformation and execution of a new strategic plan for ATM-C,” Sulaiman said.

In his response, Mr. Akinyemi said that having been closely engaged in all issues facing the ATM industry from banking as well as IAD perspectives, he is glad to take on the central role of leading ATM deployment organisation in West Africa.

“I look forward to working closely with the board and the new Chief Executive, Olumide Bajomo, and believe we will form a strong and effective team,” he asserted.

The current times are challenging with the recent licensing of two additional IAD’s by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) but ATM-C has many strengths and valuable assets on which it is building an enduring customer focused business.

Mr. Akinyemi was optimistic that the new team could restructure the company to enable these strengths, once again to become what it is known and valued for.

Mr. Akinyemi started his professional career in 1987 with International Computers Limited (ICL) as Systems Adviser.

He commenced his banking career in 1989 as Head Systems Unit at the former Lead Merchant Bank moving on to Diamond Bank in 1991 to Head different units such as Systems Unit, Commercial & Consumer Banking Unit as well as Retail Banking unit.

He later moved to United Bank for Africa (UBA) as Head Retail Banking under the Consumer Banking Division and thereafter to Head Card Business, Cash Management and e-Solutions Group at Citibank Nigeria.

He returned to Diamond Bank in 2002 overseeing Operations and Technology Divisions prior to being appointed to the board of the bank in 2006.

He earned a B.Sc. degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos and an Executive MBA from International Graduate School of Management, IESE, University of Navarra, Madrid, Spain.

He is an Alumnus of Lagos Business School and Harvard Business School, a member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK (MCIM) and an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Nigeria (HCIB).

He is also a member of the National Payment Systems Strategy Committee (NPSSC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

On the other hand, Mr. Bajomo, the newly appointed Managing Director/CEO of ATM-C, would leverage his wealth of experience in the electronic payments industry based on the pioneering role he played at the inception of ATM-C.

With over 19-year experience spanning technology and financial service industry working with leading institutions including two of the largest banks in Africa, Mr. Bajomo is expected to provide leadership and execute strategies for the development of e-business, e-banking and e-payment.

As Deputy General Manager with Ecobank Group, he was responsible for Transaction Banking Service Delivery across 28 African countries, and also serving as Head, Transaction Banking in Ecobank Nigeria.

Prior to this, he was an Assistant General Manager and Divisional Head, Electronic Banking with UBA Group, while he served as director on the board of payment services and e-business organizations such as ValuCard Nigeria, InterSwitch, National eGovernment Strategies Limited (NeGSt) and ATM-C earlier as a non-executive Director representing UBA Group.


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