Adekunle Akinbowale is a seasoned business and operations executive with over 25 years of professional experience in strategic, business, and tactical operations at branch and enterprise levels. His expertise spans trade, domestic and interbank operations, branch operations, digital banking, and e-business, with a strong focus on leveraging technology, agile methodologies, and process automation to enhance operational efficiency and business performance.

Throughout his career, Adekunle has supported Retail and Corporate Banking, as well as insurance businesses, through effective operational management, risk-based decision-making, and process optimisation. He has developed considerable expertise in identifying operational cost drivers, addressing fraud vulnerabilities, and implementing sustainable controls and solutions that align with organisational objectives, promote business growth, and maintain operational costs and fraud risks within acceptable industry thresholds.

His appointment as Executive Director of GT Pension Managers Limited in October 2026 marks his return to the Guaranty Trust family, where he spent 16 years in various leadership positions across Head Office and branch operations. His last role within the Group was Group Head, Transaction Services, Lagos Mainland, which he held until August 2015.

Following his tenure with the Group, Adekunle held several senior leadership positions, including Head of Personal and Business Banking Operations at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Head of Settlement Group and Operations Re-engineering at AXA Mansard Insurance, Nigeria, and Chief Security Officer at AXA Mansard Insurance, Nigeria. These roles further broadened his experience in operational strategy, business transformation, risk management, and organisational leadership.

Adekunle holds a First-Class degree in Computer Science from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, and a Master of Science (MSc) in Corporate Finance from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Chartered Institute of Finance and Control of Nigeria (FCIFC), an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (HCIB), and an Associate of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (AIIN). He also holds Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt and Green Belt certifications from the International Lean Six Sigma Institute (iLSSi) and is a Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP).

In addition to his professional qualifications, Adekunle is a member of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, with certifications as a Leadership Speaker, Trainer, and Coach. He has participated in numerous local and international training programmes, conferences, workshops, and symposia covering management, strategy, leadership, security, technology, and business operations.

Adekunle brings to GT Pension Managers Limited a wealth of experience in operational excellence, strategic execution, risk management, and business transformation, which will support the Company's pursuit of operational efficiency, sustainable growth, and service excellence.