Mr. Andrew Chukwuelozona Isichei, referred to as Andy Isichei, is a Turnaround Specialist, Motivator, Coach, Mentor, Visionary and Result-oriented Leader. He has proven success in identifying new markets, and spearheading operational improvements to drive productivity, reduce costs, and strategically positioning for success. Andy is a resourceful growth driver who takes on seemingly insurmountable growth and profit challenges and designs outcomes attractive to investors.
He revived the moribund National Clearing & Forwarding Agency (NACFA), a Federal Government parastatal; established processes and set up infrastructure, turning it around to one of the best managed and profitable government agencies. He grew the asset base of NACFA from N28million in 1990 to a market value of N3.6billion at privatization in 2006.
Andy was one of the three-man team who set up the first West African Oil & Gas Free Trade Zone in Onne, Rivers State, Nigeria. He led the team that acquired several subsidiaries for Nigeria Engineering Works, including Rivers Vegetable Oil Company, now an NGN18bn turnover business between 1987 -1990. He played a key role in the growth and expansion of the Sunray into a diversified group of four companies.
Before he went into private practice, Andy held different managerial positions including MD/CEO NACFA (National Clearing & Forwarding Agency) 1999 – 2006; GM Finance & Admin Prodeco Ltd. & DMS Nigeria Ltd. (INTEL Group) 1996 – 1998 ; GM Finance Sunray Publications Group 1990 – 1995; Deputy Finance Mgr. Nigeria Engineering Works Ltd. (Birla Group, India) 1987 – 1990; and Lead Auditor KPMG (formerly Peat Marwick) 1982 – 1987.
Andy is currently the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of ACI Holdings, a group of indigenous companies in the Energy, Logistics, Construction, Environment, Agro & Allied, & Professional Services sectors. The following companies are members of ACI Holdings – Cybernetics International Services Limited, Multifreight Nigeria Limited, MFN Port Services Limited, Cybernetics Aviation Limited, Cybernetics Construction Solutions Limited, AC Synergy Systems Limited and Isichei Farms Limited.
To hone his business and managerial skills and remain abreast of developments in the business sphere, Andy has taken executive courses in the following ivy- league universities and business schools – Leeds Metropolitan University, UK; University of Texas; University of Chicago; DePaul’s University, Chicago; Lagos Business School; IESE Business School Barcelona, Spain; Harvard Business School, Boston, Ma. USA; and Kellogg Business School Illinois, Chicago.
Among other degrees and certificates, he has an MBA from Rivers State University of Science and Technology, M.Sc. in Corporate Governance from Leeds Metropolitan University, UK and Certificate in Crude Oil, Gas Accounting & Taxation from University of Texas USA.
He is presently the President/Chairman of the Governing Council, Nigerian Chamber of Shipping and a member of many professional associations in Nigeria.
He has won several awards including – Most Valuable Maritime Director (2001), Commendation from the Federal Executive Council (December 2000), Award for Excellence by the Dr. Kwame Nkrumah African Leadership Award (2003), and Award for Excellence (Transport week in 2006). Andy is married and blessed with children.