Chief Executive Officer of Universal Merchant Bank (UMB), Dr Philip Oti-Mensah, has been honoured as a Top Influential Business Leader of the Decade at the 2025 Ghana Corporate Executives Awards.

The ceremony, organised by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana, took place at the Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra on Saturday, November 22, 2025.

The award recognises business leaders whose strategic leadership, long-term impact, and sector influence have contributed significantly to Ghana’s economic development over the past ten years.

Industry observers say the recognition reinforces Dr Oti-Mensah’s reputation for institutional turnaround, organisational strengthening, and leadership development within the banking sector.

Over the last decade, Dr Oti-Mensah has held senior leadership roles across multiple financial institutions.

He led the transformation of Union Savings and Loans between 2013 and 2015, moving the institution from the bottom of the industry rankings to number one in total assets and profitability in less than three years.

He subsequently worked with the Bank of Ghana to secure a universal banking licence, becoming the founding CEO of OmniBank.

He later played a key role in the merger that formed OmniBSIC, where he served as Executive Director and supported the bank’s recapitalisation and restructuring efforts.

Beyond institutional transformation, Dr Oti-Mensah is widely recognised for mentoring and developing industry talent.

Many senior banking professionals currently serving across the sector trace their grounding to his leadership, contributing to what analysts describe as a lasting human capital legacy.

At UMB, Dr Oti-Mensah has driven a renewed transformation agenda that has produced strong financial performance and operational repositioning.

Between May and October 2025, UMB more than doubled its total assets from about GHS 5 billion to over GHS 13 billion and returned to profitability within months. Analysts have characterised the turnaround as one of the strongest in the banking sector in recent years.

The bank has also expanded its digital capabilities, enhanced customer service, strengthened operational efficiency, and invested in talent development.

The Top Influential Business Leader of the Decade award is reserved for individuals whose influence extends beyond corporate performance to shape sector direction and national competitiveness.

Organisers noted that Dr Oti-Mensah’s ability to rebuild institutions, nurture high-performing teams, and steer organisations toward resilience positions him among the most impactful business leaders of the period.

The 2025 Ghana Corporate Executives Awards marked its 10th anniversary under the theme “The Role of Public–Private Partnerships in Corporate Governance and Economic Development.”