The Board Directors of Zenith Bank Plc has appointed Dr. Adaora Umeoji as the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc.
The Bank in a statement to the Nigerian Exchange explained that the appointment is with effect from June 1, 2024, and is subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
She will take over from Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose tenure expires on May 31, 2024.
With the appointment, Adora becomes the first female to lead the bank, where she currently serves as the deputy GMD.
Zenith Bank prefers to appoint insiders as Group Managing Directors/Chief Executives.
According to the statement signed by Micheal Osilama Otu, the Company Secretary the appointment is consistent with the bank’s tradition and succession strategy of grooming leaders from within.
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Umeoji has been the Deputy Managing Director of the bank since October 28, 2016, and has close to thirty (30) years of cognate banking experience of which twenty-six (26) years has 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.
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.
She is a fellow of notable professional bodies including the Chartered Banker Institute, UK, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of Credit Administration, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Nigeria, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, and the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria among others.
In 2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honored Dr. Umeoji with Officer of the Order of the Niger, as a recognition of her contributions to nation-building. She is a Peace Advocate of the United Nations (UN-POLAC).
