Razack Adeyemi Adeola

Group Managing Director /CEO
Qualifications: B.L, LL.M (Specialization in Law of Secured Credit Transactions and International Economic Law)
Date of appointment: Dec 22, 2005

Mr. Yemi Adeola has over 25 years professional experience spanning banking, finance, law, corporate consulting and academia. Prior to his appointment as Managing Director Sterling Bank Plc, he served as Executive Director, Corporate and Commercial Banking between January 2006 and November 2007.

Mr. Adeola started his career as a university teacher in 1984, leaving to become a consultant with the firm of Price Waterhouse Coopers in 1987.

He joined Nigeria International Bank (Citibank Nigeria) in 1988 and served in various capacities notably Executive Director overseeing Government & Public Infrastructure (1998-2000) and Commercial Banking (2000-3).

In June 2003, he left Citibank Nigeria to pursue a turn-around assignment as Deputy Managing Director of Trust Bank of Africa Limited, playing a leading role in the effort that restored the bank to profitability.

A J.F Kennedy scholar, Yemi holds a post graduate degree in Law and specializes in secured credit transactions.  

Lanre Adesanya

Executive Director, Treasury & North
Qualifications: B.Sc (Econs.), M.Sc (Econs.)
Date of appointment: Dec 22, 2005

Mr. Lanre Adesanya serves on the board as an Executive Director, an appointment he has held since January 2006. He started his banking career in 1987 as a Credit and Marketing Officer in Nigbel Merchant Bank Ltd (NBML) and was subsequently appointed pioneer manager for the Port Harcourt branch in 1991.

He rapidly moved up the rungs of the organization to become the General Manager overseeing the Port Harcourt and Abuja regions in December 2000. Subsequently, his responsibilities were expanded to cover Public Sector Banking and Management Services.

In 2003, he assumed the role of Executive Director and Chief Marketing Officer of the bank from where he became the Managing Director of  Nigbel Merchant Bank Ltd.

Mr. Adesanya has attended many executive training programs and has over 21 years banking experience.

He holds both first and graduate degrees in Economics from the University of Lagos.  

Devendra Puri

Executive Director, Operations & Technology
Qualifications: Cert. (Botany, Zoology), Certified Associate, Indian Institute of Bankers
Date of appointment: Dec 10, 2009

Mr. Devendra Puri serves on the board as an Executive Director. He started his banking career as a direct officer with State Bank of India (SBI) in 1984.

He has held senior positions in Personnel & Human Resources, Training, Operations and Risk Management. Mr. Puri was the Regional Manager in charge of Region II AO, Patna between 2008 and 2009; leading the Region to becoming the first among others to achieve some major milestones in the Bank.

While serving as Circle Credit and Financial Officer at the SBI Local Head office in Patna between June 2009 and April 2010, he was promoted Deputy General Manager in August 2009. He is presently serving SBI internationally in Nigeria.

An alumnus of the A.N. College, Patna, Mr. Puri is an associate of the prestigious India Institute of Bankers. 

Abubakar Sule

Executive Director, Corporate Banking
Qualifications:B.Sc (Accounting)
Date of appointment: Nov 01, 2011

Abubakar Sule graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. Over the last 22 years, he has acquired extensive experience in the banking industry in various capacities. He spent his first 6 years working in supervisory and management roles at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) after which he assumed prominent positions in leading financial institutions in Nigeria.

He joined Sterling Bank in the General Management cadre in February 2003 where he held positions in several business areas including Treasury, Trade Services and Corporate Banking. After a brief stint as Managing Director, Sterling Capital Markets Limited, he was appointed Executive Director at Intercontinental Bank Plc by the CBN. While at Intercontinental Bank, he was responsible for the North Bank Directorate, Operations, Information Technology and Services.

Upon successful completion of his assignment at Intercontinental Bank Plc, he was appointed as Executive Director, Corporate Banking at Sterling Bank.