Mr. Akinlade Edward Olanrewaju was born on the 3rd day of April 1965. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He obtained his MBA from the London School of Business Studies; in 2010, he attended the London School of Accountancy where he obtained his CIMA qualification. He obtained a National Diploma in Business Administration from Lagos State Polytechnic (College of Science & Technology) in 1983. He attended Western College of Commerce, Lagos, where he obtained his General Certificate of Education in 1981.

Mr. Akinlade worked with South East Business Services (1993-1999). From 1999-2003, he worked with Best Value Associates (seconded to Alpha Merchant Bank), London, as the Head of Treasury. Thereafter, from 2003-2006, he worked with Lambro Limited in London as their Managing Director. In 2007, Mr. Akinlade registered and became the Group Managing Director of Suru Group Limited.

Mr. Akinlade is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Haldane McCall Plc (formerly Haldane McCall Nigeria Limited), with Suru Express Hotels Limited and Suru Homes Limited being its subsidiaries. He is also currently the Chairman of Prolific Micro-finance Bank Limited.

Mr. Akinlade is an astute real estate professional and property developer with an emphasis on high-end commercial and residential real estate development. He is well-experienced in identifying excellent property locations and developing properties internationally and locally. He is highly competent in property finance and trading, versatile in the origination, conception, structuring, and completion of a wide range of property developments. He pioneered the development of cooperative upscale luxury terraced housing units in the local Nigerian market and abroad. Notably, he also played a key role in bringing a U.S. 5-star hotel brand, Best Western Plus, to Ikeja, Lagos.

Worthy of note is his contribution and wealth of experience in the emerging hospitality industry with a broad focus on the West African sub-region. Mr. Akinlade possesses excellent advisory and project implementation skills. He has sat on the boards of different companies where his board leadership has made a remarkable difference.