Zenith Bank Plc has appointed Dr. Adaora Umeoji as its new Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2024.
Umeoji will take over from the current GMD, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose time in office expires May 31.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the company secretary, Michael Otu, which was filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Tuesday.
“Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji is the first female GMD/CEO 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,” the statement partly reads.
Here are 10 things to know about the new Zenith Bank boss:
1. Umeoji’s appointment marks a historic milestone as the first female to hold the GMD/CEO position at Zenith Bank.
2. Umeoji, the founder of the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), is well-known for promoting ethical banking and humanitarian assistance.
3. The United Nations (UN-POLAC) recognized her as a peace advocate, and the Nigerian government awarded her the Officer of the Order of Nigeria (OON) national accolade in 2022 for her contributions to nation-building.
4. Umeoji has over 30 years of banking experience, including 26 years with Zenith Bank, where she previously served as Deputy Managing Director on October 28, 2016.
5. She has a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Jos, a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and first-class honors in law from Baze University in Abuja.
6. She also holds a Master of Laws degree from the University of Salford in the United Kingdom and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar.
7. Umeoji’s academic credentials include a Doctorate in Business Administration from Apollos University in the United States and a Certificate in Economics for Business from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
8. She completed executive studies in strategic management at Harvard Business School and the Global Banking Programme at Columbia Business School.
9. Umeoji also attended management programs at prestigious colleges throughout the world, including Wharton Business School in the United States, and holds a credential in Leading Global Business from Harvard Business School.
10. She succeeds Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose five-year tenure ends on May 31, 2024.
