Gavin Laws

Chairman and Independent Non-Executive Director

Gavin Laws was appointed as a Non-Executive Director in October 2013 and as Chairman from 1st January 2016. Over a 36 year career with Standard Chartered he gained a deep experience of international and emerging markets having worked in Europe, Africa and Asia. He started his career in Nigeria before being posted to South Africa as a credit risk manager. He then spent 10 years in Asia with responsibilities encompassing cash operations and trade finance. Various senior executive roles followed including Head of Corporate Banking in Africa, Regional Head of Consumer Banking for Africa, Head of Governance West covering 50 countries and finally as Group Head of Corporate Affairs. Gavin retired from Standard Chartered in 2012 and has since taken up Non Executive roles at Travelex Holdings Ltd and ASA International as well as becoming a trustee at Liverpool FC Foundation, Berkhamsted Schools Group and Trans Antarctic Winter Traverse.

David Forster

Managing Director / Chief Executive

David Forster was appointed to the position of Chief Operating Officer in August 2013 and to MD/CEO in October 2017. Mr Forster has over 35 years of experience working in Operational roles in the City where, prior to joining UBN, he had been employed from 1991 to 2013 as Head of Finance & Operations at HSH Nordbank AG, - a successful German Corporate Bank created in 2003 following the merger of Hamburgische Landesbank and Landesbank Schleswig-Holstein.  Mr Forster started his banking career in the 1970’s firstly at Orion Bank and then at Banco National de Mexico where he was instrumental in developing the accounting, documentary letters of credit and loans administration systems for the new UK branch before securing a further position at Libra Bank between 1985 and 1990, where he rose to the position of Manager.

Nigel Richards

Independent Non-Executive Director

Mr Richards joined the Board in August 2016 and is a highly experienced international and emerging markets banker with strong business and risk disciplines developed in several markets and across a wide variety of roles. He has a background in both corporate and financial institutions relationship management together with governance positions built up as a board member of Standard Chartered Bank’s subsidiaries in Turkey and Zimbabwe and an associated bank in the Seychelles.

Mr Richards has an MBA and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers.

Emeka Okonkwo

Non-Executive Director

Emeka Okonkwo was formally Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc (UBN) until May 2022. He joined Union Bank of Nigeria Plc in 2013 as an Executive Director to lead the Corporate Banking and Treasury business and appointed to CEO in April 2021. He was appointed to the UK Bank’s Board of Directors in May 2018.

Mr. Okonkwo began his career at Citibank Nigeria where he rose from officer level to become Executive Director in charge of Commercial Banking and Global Subsidiaries in 2009. At Citibank, he worked across various disciplines including Corporate Finance, Credit Risk Management, Marketing, Treasury and Strategic Management in Nigeria and Lagos. Prior to joining Union Bank of Nigeria he was the Head of the Corporate and Investment Banking Division in Citibank, Bangladesh.

Emeka Okonkwo has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; an MSc in Construction Management from the University of Lagos and an MBA from Warwick Business School, UK.

Kenroy Dowers

Non-Executive Director

Kenroy Dowers is Group MD, Strategy and Investments for Atlas Mara Limited. He was appointed to the Board of UBN in August 2022.

Mark Patterson

Non-Executive Director

Mark Patterson is Operating Partner for Corsair Capital LLP. He was appointed to the Board of UBN in August 2022.

Olubunmi Adeoye

Non-Executive Director

Bunmi Adeoye is Principal (Head, Technology, Media and Technology) for African Capital Alliance, Nigeria. He was appointed to the Board of UBN in August 2022.

Derek Chime

Non-Executive Director

Derek Chime is Executive Director - Private Equity Africa for Affirma Capital (formerly Standard Chartered Private Equity). He was appointed to the Board of UBN in August 2022.