Adaora Umeoji becomes first female Group Managing Director of Zenith Bank

Zenith Bank Plc has appointed Adaora Umeoji as its new group managing director and chief executive officer (GMD/CEO), making her the first female CEO of the bank.

Her appointment is in line with the bank’s tradition and succession strategy of grooming leaders from within.

Zenith Bank in a statement at the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) on Tuesday said Umeoji’s appointment will take effect from June 1, 2024.

Zenith Bank said Adaora Umeoji will replace Ebenezer Onyeagwu whose five-year tenure as GMD/CEO ends on May 31.

Prior to Umeoji’s appointment as CEO, she was the deputy managing director (DMD) of Zenith Bank from October 28, 2016.

Read also: Meet Adaora Umeoji the newly appointed Zenith’s group managing director

Umeoji has over 30 years of experience in banking of which 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,” 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 notable professional bodies including the Chartered Banker Institute, UK; Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, and the Nigerian Institute of Management, among others.

The banker is said to be a peace advocate of the United Nations (UN-POLAC).

The new CEO is the founder of the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform she uses to promote ethical banking and service to humanity.

The statement noted also that in 2022, the federal government of Nigeria honoured Umeoji with the title of officer of the order of Nigeria (OON) in recognition of her contributions to nation-building.