The Board of the Universal Merchant Bank
(UMB) today announced Samuel Sakyi-Hyde as the acting CEO of the Bank. He is
expected to continue to drive the growth strategy of the Bank, as the process
of executive succession is secured, within regulatory and statutory guidelines.
Sakyi-Hyde is a leading Ghanaian banker
with almost 3 decades of experience. His career track includes periods at
UniCredit Ghana Limited where he served as the Chief Executive Officer. He has
since 2019 served as General Manager, Consumer Banking at UMB, where he is
recognized and acclaimed for bringing the Consumer Banking Division of the Bank
into the black for the first time in a decade.
Speaking on the appointment, Mr. George
Smith Graham, Board Chairman at UMB said: “Sakyi-Hyde comes to the role as part
of the succession protocol being deployed, as Nana Dwemoh Benneh proceeds to
retire from the Bank. It is a testament to the robust governance framework we
have in place and it is anticipated that the growth strategy and trajectory we
have in place will continue seamlessly.”
Samuel Sakyi-Hyde in his comments said: “I
am humbled by the appointment and look forward to contributing to the Bank’s 50-year
heritage of positive impact in this market. Our brand is strong and the
fundamentals of our business are healthy. #UMBUnited will continue to
vigorously pursue our growth strategy of achieving dominance in SME and
prioritise a digital-led offering. Overall, I am glad to lead a team that has
been committed to delivering a uniquely Ghanaian perspective to world-class
banking, since 1972.”
UMB is a leading indigenous bank reputed
for bringing a uniquely Ghanaian perspective to banking, since 1972.
Headquartered in Accra and licensed by the Bank of Ghana, the Bank operates out
of 35 branches across Ghana. Its strategic aspiration is to become a digital - 1st,
SME-focused bank. The bank has pioneered several innovations in this market,
including the UMB SPEEDAPP, one of the best-performing agnostic banking apps in
the sub-region.