Segun Julius Agbaje

Born: 1964 Current Role: Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO PLC) Other Roles: Director of PepsiCo; Member of the Mastercard Advisory Board, Middle East and Africa

Education

• Secondary Education:

  • St Gregory’s College, Obalende, Lagos State, Nigeria

  • St Augustine Academy, Kent, England

• Higher Education:

  • University of San Francisco, California – Bachelor of Accounting

  • University of San Francisco, California – Master of Business Administration (MBA)

Career Journey

• Early Career:

  • Began at Ernst & Young, San Francisco.

  • Joined Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) in 1991 when it was a startup.

• GTBank Leadership:

  • Rose to Executive Director in January 2000.

  • Became Deputy Managing Director in August 2002.

  • Appointed Managing Director/CEO of GTBank in June 2011 after the passing of co-founder Tayo Aderinokun.

  • Led GTBank to become one of Africa’s most innovative and profitable banks.

  • Handed over GTBank’s MD role to Miriam Olusanya in August 2021.

• GTCO PLC:

  • Transitioned GTBank into a holding company structure (GTCO PLC) in 2021.

  • Appointed Group CEO in August 2021, overseeing retail and investment banking, asset management, pension management, and payment services.

• Global Roles:

  • Elected to the Board of Directors and Audit Committee of PepsiCo (July 2020).

  • Serves on the Mastercard Advisory Board for Middle East and Africa.

Achievements

Under Agbaje’s leadership, GTBank/GTCO has won numerous awards:

• Best Bank in Nigeria – Euromoney

• African Bank of the Year – African Banker Award

• Most Innovative Bank – EMEA Finance

• Best Banking Group – World Business Leader Magazine

• Best Bank in Nigeria – The Banker Awards

He is widely credited with transforming GTBank into a pan-African financial powerhouse, known for digital innovation, customer-centric services, and strong corporate governance.

Personal Life

• Parents: Chief Julius Kosebinu Agbaje (banker) and Mrs. Margaret Olabisi Agbaje (teacher).

• Sibling: Older brother Jimi Agbaje, a Lagos-based politician with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Quick Facts