Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Dr. Adaora Umeoji as its Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective June 1. The bank's Company Secretary, Mr. Michael Otu, made this announcement in a notification sent to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX). The appointment is subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
Dr. Umeoji will succeed Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the bank’s current Group Managing Director, whose five-year term expires on May 31. This appointment marks a significant milestone as Umeoji becomes the first female GMD/CEO since the inception of Zenith Bank. According to Otu, Umeoji's appointment aligns with the bank’s executive transition tradition, succession plan, and strategy of grooming leaders from within.
Prior to her appointment, Umeoji served as the Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank since October 28, 2016, bringing close to 30 years of banking experience to her new role, with 26 years of that period spent at Zenith Bank. 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.
Additionally, Umeoji holds a Masters of Law from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, an MBA from the University of Calabar, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Apollos University, United States. She has also completed several executive education programs, including the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School, U.S., and the strategic thinking and management program at Wharton Business School, U.S.
