A series of leadership changes have taken place at the executive level of Computer Warehouse Group (CWG) Plc
James Agada, formerly the chief technology officer has been appointed as the new managing director and CEO. Agada is a highly innovative and versatile technology expert, who holds a first class degree and a master’s degree in electronic engineering, with a specialisation in digital systems from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also holds an MBA from the International Graduate School of Management (IESE), Navara, Spain.
Agada has vast experience in consulting, software development, implementation and support. He was pro-tem president, Lagos Chapter of the Nigeria Computer Society, and was conferred with the “Titans of Tech Merit Award” in 2013, by Technology Africa. Prior to his appointment as the company managing director-CEO, Agada was responsible for the company’s research and development unit. He was also the executive director, responsible for overseeing the company’s former software division ExpertEdge.
On his appointment, Agada said, “I know the times are difficult and the challenges are many especially given the business performance of the company in the last few years. Our first task is to return CWG Plc to sustainable profitability this year. We will be taking tough decisions to reduce our costs. We will also be investing to grow profitable business. Maintaining this balance between cost reduction and the needed investment for growth will be the big tasking effort that is facing us. I assure you of my commitment to put in my utmost best to ensure CWG Plc returns to a growing profitable path.”
Other appointments include Kunle Ayodeji as the CWG Plc's chief operating officer. Ayodeji has a lot of experience in the fields of banking, financial consulting and private equity. Prior to joining CWG, he was an investment principal with Aureos Capital, and later became an associate director with The Abraaj Group, where he was instrumental in the investment of more than US$45mn of Abraaj Funds. Before joining Aureos in 2007, Ayodeji was a senior consultant with KPMG Nigeria where he was involved with the valuation, due diligence and feasibility studies for various corporations and state governments. He has also worked with Triumphbank Plc in Lagos, Nigeria. Ayodeji had been a member of the Board committees of CWG Plc's finance, audit and risk committee (where he was the pioneer Chairman), as well as the general purpose committee, before he joined CWG in March 2015 as executive director, finance and operations. Ayodeji holds a B.Sc. in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria and an MBA from University of Birmingham, UK.
Austin Okere continues as the executive vice-chairman of the company. Okere, who founded the Company, previously filled the role of the executive vice-chairman in addition to his role as managing director and CEO. Okere is an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the Columbia Business School (CBS), New York, a Fellow of the Institute of Directors of Nigeria, in addition to serving on the World Economic Forum Business Council on Innovation and Intrapreneurship, Board of National Competiveness Council of Nigeria, and the Initiative for Global Development (IGD) will continue to contribute enormously to the continuous growth of the Company through his wealth of knowledge in the ICT industry and Entrepreneurial development.
To strengthen the finance function of the company, Obianuju Ejeh-Nnabuife has also been appointed as the chief financial officer. She has enormous experience in the areas of audit, financial and risk advisory, financial control and treasury. She commenced her career at KPMG, where she provided audit and advisory services to banks, discount houses and insurance companies. She was one of the pioneer staff of the finance and treasury division at Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), the African-focused Development Financial Institute. She also worked in other sectors such as retail and oil and gas in both Nigeria and the Middle East. Mrs Ejeh-Nnabuife holds an MBA from Manchester Business School, UK. She also has a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Economics from the University of Benin. She is an associate member of ICAN and a CFA Charterholder.
