Leadway CEO Hassan-Odukale retires 30 years after

After three decades in executive capacity, one of the toughest Managing Director in the insurance industry, Oye Hassan-Odukale of Leadway Assurance Company Limited has retired.

Hassan-Odukale, a no-nonsense CEO who took over the company from his late father, Sir Olusola Hassan Odukale, picked one of the most significant moment of recapitalisation of the insurance industry to retire.

His brother Tunde Hassan-Odukale has, however, succeeded him as the organisation’s new Managing Director effective January 1, 2020.

A statement from the company explained that Hassan-Odukale has nurtured the company for 30 years.

“During his tenure, Oye saw the business grow from a small regional company into one of Nigeria’s foremost insurance companies, attaining the number one position in terms of Gross Premium Income (GPI) and Balance Sheet Size.

“Oye is succeeded by his brother, Tunde Hassan-Odukale as the organisation’s Managing Director effective January 1, 2020. Tunde Hassan-Odukale has been a key member of Leadway’s executive and leadership team since 1999, previously serving as the company’s Executive Director, Financial Services and Systems,” the statement read.

Commenting on Tunde’s appointment, Hassan-Odukale said: “In his 30 years of leadership experience at Leadway, Tunde has been the driving force behind the tremendous growth we have seen in the areas of Life Assurance, Investments, Finance and Technology. This makes him a natural successor to steer Leadway to its next phase in history.”

He commended the professional team at Leadway, emphasising his confidence that “Tunde will build on the company’s legacy with their unflinching and committed support.”

Reflecting on his appointment, Tunde said: “I am honoured, yet humbled to lead this company at a time like this. We have a customer-centric culture and an engaging approach that has enabled us to grow strongly through the years. Building on this legacy is a challenge that I accept together with our professional team.

We are where we are because our clients, brokers and direct customers trust our ability to support them in a friendly, empathetic and reliable manner. This is humbling and our ambition to continue to deliver remains fierce. I am passionately committed to consolidate on existing achievements by placing our clients at the absolute centre of everything we do.”

Tunde, 55, is a graduate of the University of London and City University, London. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Pure Mathematics and is an alumnus of the Lagos, London, Harvard and Stanford Business Schools. He sits on the board of directors of various blue-chip companies, which includes First Bank of Nigeria Limited. He is a member of the Royal Society of Mathematics, the Institute of Actuaries and the Institute of Directors.