Zenith Bank Plc on Tuesday announced the appointment of Dr Adaora Umeoji as its Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective June 1.
This was disclosed in a notification sent to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) by the bank’s Company Secretary, Mr Michael Otu.
Otu said that the appointment was subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
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She takes over from Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose five-year term expires on May 31, 2024
Umeoji is the first female GMD/CEO since the inception of the bank
Prior to this appointment, Dr. Umeoji has been the Deputy Managing Director of the bank since October 28, 2016
She has spent 26 out of her 30 years cognate banking experience in Zenith Bank.
She is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School where she attended the Advanced Management Program (AMP)
She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos
She also holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a First-Class honors in Law from Baze University, Abuja
She holds a Certificate in Economics for Business from the prestigious MIT Sloan School of Management, 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,
She is a Peace Advocate of the United Nations (UN-POLAC).
She has impacted many lives through her philanthropic and humanitarian activities through her NGOs; Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation and the Adorable Foundation that educates, caters for Cancer patients and indigent children education especially the Girl-Child.
Her contribution to humanity was recognized by the Sun Newspaper which recently bestowed on her the Humanitarian Service Icon Award for 2023.
She founded the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN), a platform she uses to promote ethical banking and service to humanity.
She is a Lady of the Order of Knights of St. John International (KSJI), and was awarded a Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester by His Holiness Pope Francis
