Access Holdings officially announced the tragic passing of its group CEO, Herbert Wigwe, in a helicopter crash in the United States. 

The company’s secretary of Access Holdings, Sunday Ekwochi, in a statement, confirmed the devastating news, stating that Wigwe, along with his wife and son, lost their lives in the accident on Friday, February 9, 2024.

The statement expressed deep condolences to Wigwe’s family and highlighted his significant contributions to the transformation of the Access franchise since 2002.

“Dr. Wigwe died alongside his wife and son on Friday, February 9, 2024 in a helicopter accident in the United States of America

“The entire Access Family mourns the loss of Herbert, Doreen and Chizi. We extend our deep and sincere sympathies to his family and loved ones.

“Dr. Wigwe was a key driving force and a larger-than-life personality who brought his remarkable passion, energy, and experience to the transformation of the Access franchise since joining the Bank in 2002.”

The chopper, transporting Wigwe and five others, crashed in California, en route to Las Vegas. The United States Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the fatalities, with no survivors found as of the report.

“We were made aware of a downed aircraft at approximately 10:12 p.m., on February 9, 2024. The scene of the crash was determined to be east of the 15-Freeway, near Halloran Springs Road,” the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement.

Investigations by the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.

Wigwe, with a professional background at Guaranty Trust Bank Plc, co-led the transformation of Access Bank Plc as Deputy Managing Director in 2002. He served as Group Managing Director/CEO until May 2022, later assuming the role of Non-Executive Director.

An alumnus of the Harvard Business School Executive Management Programme, Wigwe held master’s degrees in Banking and International Finance from the University College of North Wales and Financial Economics from the University of London, along with a B.Sc. in Accounting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.