#USAfricaTV and USAfrica magazine Exclusive:
Dr. ALEX OTTI (The GMD-CEO of Diamond Bank) grants his very first interview on his likely quest for Abia State of Nigeria 2015 Governorsh
Otti told USAfricaonline.com USAfrica magazine (September-October 2014 edition) that “As we approach 2015, I believe Abia state citizens and residents should look out for leadership whose bases are selflessness, competence and integrity. In choosing, they should be careful to eschew any imposed candidates but rather go for that candidate who understands the potentials of the state and how these can be realized within the tenure. A tenure is short, 48 months, and taking from the approach of Howard Buffet in his book “40 Chances”, such a governor has 48 chances to
transform Abia State. This presupposes that the leader Abians choose must be prepared to hit the ground running and possess the capacity to start making a difference from month one.”
Assessing the progress made by the bank during his current tenure, Dr. Otti noted that “Change, desperate change, was absolutely critical when I came in and we had to do the things that needed to be done. We changed personnel, products, customers, businesses, our orientation, brand etc. This change was not change for its own sake but change that was tracked for its ability to deliver on desired results. Because of our commitment and determination, results have also come in quickly. In 2013, a bank that was not reckoned with in early 2011 was declared by the Central Bank of Nigeria as one of the 8 Systemically Important Banks in the country that has about 24 banks. Customer service has improved tremendously and the KPMG 2014 customer service index put us in the top 3 of most categories. Additionally we have grown tremendously in size and in terms of total assets, deposits etc. are now the 6th position from the 13th position about three years ago. In all these, we paid serious attention to the quality of our loan book and have since then written off over N55 billion of legacy bad loans and sold about N78 billion of loans to Asset Management Company of Nigeria, AMCON. We are now back to sustainable profits and for the first time in 3 years were able to pay a dividend to shareholders.”
FULL text of Dr. Otti’s USAfrica magazine interview with Chido (currently on sale) will be published on USAfricaonline.com and the USAfrica-powered e-group on Facebook, AbiaWorld on September 30, 2014.
