The Board Directors of Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Dr. Adaora Umeoji as the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc making her the first female to be appointed GMD of the bank.
According to the bank’s statement to the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investment public, the appointment is effective from June 1, 2023, and is subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Adaora, who currently works as the Deputy GMD from October 28, 2016, will take over from Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu whose tenure expires on May 31st, 2024, as Zenith Bank prefers to appoint insiders as Group Managing Directors/ Chief Executives.
According to the statement signed by the Company Secretary, Micheal Osilama Otu, noted that the appointment is consistent with the bank’s tradition and succession strategy of grooming leaders from within.
It noted that Umeoji has over 30 years of experience in banking of which 26 years have been with Zenith Bank.
“She is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School where she attended the Advanced Management Program (AMP) and an alumnus of Columbia Business School with a Certificate in the Global Banking Program,” Zenith said in the statement at the NGX.
“She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, and a First-Class honors in Law from Baze University, Abuja.
“She holds a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar, and also has a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.
“She holds a Certificate in Economics for Business from the prestigious MIT Sloan School of Management, USA, and has attended various management programmes in renowned Universities around the world including the strategic thinking and Management programme at Wharton Business School, USA.
“She also attended the executive program in Strategic Management, and has a Certificate in Leading Global Business all from Harvard Business School, USA.”
Umeoji is also a fellow of several prestigious professional associations, such as the Nigerian Institute of Management, the Chartered Banker Institute of Nigeria, and the Chartered Banker Institute of the United Kingdom.
According to reports, the banker supports UN peace initiatives (UN-POLAC).
The new CEO founded the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), an organization she uses as a forum to advocate for moral banking practices and humanitarianism.
The statement also mentioned Umeoji’s 2022 appointment as an officer of the order of Nigeria (OON) by the federal government of Nigeria in honor of her services to the development of the country.
