LONDON / LAGOS — United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s global financial powerhouse, has entered 2026 with a transformative sweep of its leadership hierarchy. The bank has officially appointed Loknath Mishra as the new Chief Executive Officer of its UK subsidiary, effective February 2, 2026. This strategic move coincides with a massive reorganization of the Group’s Executive Board in Lagos.
Loknath Mishra: A Strategic Hire for Global ConnectivityThe appointment of Mishra is a cornerstone of UBA’s “Global Bank” strategy, aimed at strengthening the financial pipeline between Africa and international markets. Mishra brings decades of high-level experience in navigating complex European regulatory landscapes.
Previously the Managing Director and CEO of ICICI Bank UK, Mishra is credited with expanding that institution’s European footprint and enhancing its operational resilience. A veteran in wholesale, corporate, and transaction banking, he is particularly noted for his work in digital innovation across trade finance and cash management. In a nod to his standing in the London financial district, Mishra was previously conferred with the Freedom of the City of London.
At UBA UK, his primary focus will be establishing the subsidiary as a “centre of excellence” for regulatory compliance while deepening the bank’s leadership in correspondent banking and trade finance. Group Managing Director Oliver Alawuba noted that Mishra’s leadership will be instrumental in advancing UBA UK as a flagship subsidiary, strengthening its capacity to support investment flows between Africa and the world.
A New Era for the Group Executive Board
The UK appointment follows a significant leadership transition at the Group level, effective January 1, 2026. The bank bid farewell to four long-serving titans who completed their tenures: Deputy Managing Director Mr. Muyiwa Akinyemi, and Executive Directors Mrs. Abiola Bawuah, Mr. Alex Alozie, and Mrs. Sola Yomi-Ajayi.
To fill these vacancies and drive the next phase of growth, UBA has promoted a “New Guard” of executives characterized by deep technical expertise and international exposure:
Emmanuel Lamptey joins the board as the Executive Director for Digital Banking. A Harvard Business School alumnus, Lamptey brings over 25 years of experience across 30 African countries, signaling UBA’s aggressive push into fintech and digital scale.
Parallel to this, Tosin Adewuyi has been named Executive Director of Corporate Banking. With over 25 years of experience spanning Sub-Saharan Africa and the UK, Adewuyi is expected to leverage his international background to manage UBA’s largest corporate portfolios.
The domestic and international wings also see fresh leadership. Chidi Okpala, formerly an executive at Heirs Holdings and a specialist in payments and strategy, takes over as Executive Director for UBA Nigeria. Meanwhile, Vikrant Bhansali steps up as the Group Executive for International Banking following his successful tenure as CEO of UBA Dubai. Rounding out the high-level shifts is Joel Owoade, who steps in as the Group Chief Risk Officer to oversee credit risk and regulatory compliance across the bank’s global footprint.
A Unified Global VisionBy simultaneously bringing in an external heavyweight like Mishra for London and promoting internal specialists like Lamptey and Adewuyi in Lagos, UBA is signaling a dual-track strategy. The bank is moving away from a traditional regional focus toward a more integrated, technology-driven global operation.
Group Chairman Tony Elumelu emphasized that these changes reflect the bank’s “robust succession and leadership development strategy,” ensuring that UBA remains competitive as it bridges the gap between African businesses and the world’s major financial hubs.
