Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc has appointed Mrs Marie Namias as an Independent Non-Executive Director, strengthening the board’s international banking expertise and governance depth.
The appointment was disclosed in a notice issued Tuesday, March 3, 2026, to shareholders, the Nigerian Exchange Limited, and the investing public. The statement, signed by Company Secretary Erhi Obebeduo, confirmed that regulatory approval has been granted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
What the Company Is Saying
GTCO described Namias as a seasoned banking executive with over 25 years of experience spanning retail banking, corporate banking, digital banking, and strategy consulting.
In its official statement, the company noted that her appointment aligns with its commitment to strong corporate governance, board diversity, and regulatory compliance in line with global best practices.
Group Chief Executive Officer Mr Segun Agbaje said:
“We are pleased to welcome Mrs Marie Namias to the Board. Her extensive international banking experience, strategic expertise, and strong governance background will further strengthen the Board’s oversight and support the Company’s strategic objectives.”
Professional Background
Namias previously served on the Executive Board of Caisse d’Epargne Bretagne Pays de Loire (Groupe BPCE), where she led both the Retail and Corporate Banking divisions.
She also held leadership roles at BRED Banque Populaire as Director of BRED Espace (Digital Banking) and earlier worked as an advisor at Deloitte & Touche Corporate Finance.
Her academic credentials include:
- Master of Science in Strategic Management from HEC
- Master of Laws in European Community Law from Universiteit Maastricht
- Degree from Institut d’Études Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po)
GTCO Board Composition
The current board of GTCO comprises:
- Mr Suleiman Barau – Chairman
- Mr Segun Agbaje – Group CEO
- Mrs Catherine Echeozo – Non-Executive Director
- Mr Babatunde Soyoye – Independent Non-Executive Director
- Mr Adebanji Adeniyi – Executive Director
- Mrs Marie Namias – Independent Non-Executive Director
Capital and Regulatory Positioning
The appointment comes months after GTCO secured approvals from the CBN and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to raise N10 billion through a private placement of ordinary shares.
The company clarified at the time that the capital raise was not prompted by any capital deficiency at its banking subsidiary, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank), which had already exceeded the CBN’s minimum capital requirement for banks with international authorisation.
In August 2025, GTBank increased its capital base to N504.04 billion, comfortably above the regulatory threshold.
