NOVA Bank Limited has named Jude Anele as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, following approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria. The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the bank, shortly after its transition from a merchant bank to a commercial bank and the completion of its recapitalisation programme ahead of the March 31, 2026, regulatory deadline.
A statement released by the bank on Sunday highlighted that Anele brings over 33 years of banking experience across West and Central Africa, with a proven track record in retail and commercial banking, corporate banking, risk management, institutional transformation, and executive leadership. He has led complex banking operations, strengthened governance frameworks, delivered sustainable revenue growth, and built high-performing teams.
The bank noted that the leadership change underscores its commitment to expanding its commercial banking platform while accelerating growth across Corporate, Commercial, and Retail segments, with a focus on priority markets.
Reacting to his appointment, Anele described it as an honour to lead the bank at a defining stage in its development.
“NOVA Bank has built a strong institutional foundation defined by regulatory compliance, capital strength, disciplined governance, and a clear commercial mandate. Our focus now is execution — deepening customer relationships, expanding responsibly across priority markets, strengthening risk discipline, and delivering sustainable value to our shareholders,” he said.
Phillips Oduoza, Chairman of NOVA Bank, welcomed the appointment, expressing confidence in Anele’s ability to steer the bank forward.
“The Board is pleased to welcome Mr Jude Anele as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. His depth of experience, strategic clarity, and proven leadership record align strongly with NOVA Bank’s growth ambitions,” Oduoza said. He added that the bank is entering a new phase of scale, stability, and structured expansion, supported by the completion of its recapitalisation ahead of regulatory deadlines.
NOVA Bank has confirmed that the capital raise, supported by both new and existing shareholders, has reinforced its balance sheet, capital adequacy, and long-term financial stability. The bank’s strong position was further validated in 2025 when Global Credit Rating reaffirmed its national scale long- and short-term issuer ratings of BBB(NG) and A3(NG), while Agusto & Co. assigned a “Bbb” rating with a stable outlook.
Currently operating in Lagos, Abuja, Owerri, and Port Harcourt, NOVA Bank plans to establish eight additional branches across key commercial hubs in 2026. The recent commissioning of its regional office in Owerri marked a milestone in the bank’s South-East and South-South growth strategy, attracting government officials, business leaders, and members of the diaspora.
NOVA Bank Limited, licensed and regulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria, began operations in 2018 as a merchant bank and transitioned to a commercial bank in 2024. It now offers retail, SME, corporate, and commercial banking services through its Phygital model, integrating physical branches with digital banking infrastructure.