Zenith Bank Plc has appointed Dr. Adaora Umeoji as its new Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
In a statement signed by the bank’s company secretary, Michael Otu, Tuesday, and filed filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited, the appointment takes effect from June 1, 2024.
The current GMD, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, effectively retires on May 31, 2024.
“Dame (Dr) Adaora Umeoji is the first female GMDCEO since the inception of the bank, and her appointment is consistent with the bank’s executive transition tradition, succession plan, and strategy of grooming leaders from within,” part of the statement read.
Prior to this appointment, Umeoji was the Deputy Managing Director of the bank since October 28, 2016. She has had nearly 30 years of banking experience 26 of which has been with Zenith Bank.
She is an alumnus of Harvard Business School, where she attended the Advanced Management Programme.
Umeoji is also 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 honours degree in law from Baze University, Abuja.
She holds a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration from the University of Calabar, and also has a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.
Umeoji also 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.