TOLU ALERO LADIPO, Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Uba Bank
The career success story of Tolu Alero Ladipo, Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications of UBA Group, serves as a reminder that gender should never be a barrier to achieving greatness. With grace and determination, she has risen to the pinnacle of her marketing and corporate communications profession, serving in multinational corporations and celebrated internationally for her outstanding service.
Prior to joining UBA Group, she was the Executive Head, Marketing and Customer Experience at Old Mutual, the Nigerian subsidiary of Old Mutual Limited, the pan-African insurance and financial services group with presence in 13 African countries.
With a legal and Strategy background, AleroLadipo has built her extensive career in Marketing and Communication with over 20 years of experience in Strategy Development, Customer & Product Portfolio Management, Public & Media Relations, and Integrated Marketing, to mention but a few.
In addition to Old Mutual, she has, at various times, worked in some of Africa’s leading financial services providers, such as United Bank for Africa (UBA), Union Bank and Stanbic IBTC as well as Standard Bank in South Africa, leading marketing strategy for Pan-African Corporate, Commercial, Retail and Wealth businesses.
Having previously held a strategic position within the UBA Group, AleroLadipo ventured into the insurance world and took on the role of Chief Marketing Executive at Mutual Benefit. At Old Mutual, she was at the frontline of deepening marketing communications, stakeholder management, customer experience and market penetration for the brand in the Nigerian insurance market, which PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) 2015 survey showed lags behind other African economies with only 0.4 per cent coverage of Nigeria’s population, who are grappling with low product education and adoption.
With this and other findings in mind, AleroLadiporestrategised for Old Mutual to set the pace with customised solutions-driven digitalised products and services towards a refreshed approach to insurance market penetration.
This determined effort from AleroLadipo and her team led to the launch of Old Mutual Nigeria’s revamped, user-friendly and e-commerce website that allows customers access various products of their choice, engage with the brand, and make instant claims seamlessly.
However, recognizing the strength of the bond within the UBA Group and the opportunities it presented, AleroLadipo returned to take up the position of Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications.
AleroLadipo’s return to the big family of UBA Group in 2023 showcases the power of family and the value of expertise. Her strategic thinking and ability to connect with diverse audiences make her the perfect fit for leading the marketing and corporate communications efforts of the group. With her at the helm, UBA Group has commenced innovative campaigns, effective messaging, and a strong presence in the market. Since stepping into her new role, AleroLadipo has been making a significant impact on the marketing and corporate communications efforts by working to sustain and depeening the UBA Group’s high reputation standing in all aspects.
With her impressive credentials and extensive experience, she and her team are deploying their expertise in adding value to the group’s culture of reputation as an organization that distinguishes itself in the marketplace by combining first class products with superior customer service delivery to surpass customer expectations in a timely, consistent and professional manner. The Group’s products and services have been positioned in the financial marketplace as ones that create value via convenience and innovation to make life easier for the customer. UBA is a brand known for its international reputation of excellence as a result of its commitment to constant innovation as a means of enhancing the image of the brand. A legacy Alero and her team are working tirelessly to sustain.
Her expertise and dedication have been honed through her legal background, with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Northumbria and a Master of Laws (LLM) in International Trade from the University of Essex, both in the United Kingdom.
She was recognized and celebrated on the 2024 special International Women’s Week as one of the women who continue to pave the way for a more inclusive and equal society.
