Zenith Bank Plc has made an official announcement naming Dr. Adaora Umeoji as its new Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment was revealed in a statement signed by the company secretary, Michael Otu, and submitted to the Nigerian Exchange Limited. Dr. Umeoji is set to assume her new role on June 1, 2024, succeeding the current GMD, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose term concludes on May 31, 2024. The statement highlights that Dr. Umeoji’s appointment as the first female GMDCEO in the bank’s history aligns with Zenith Bank’s established practices of executive transition, succession planning, and internal leadership development. Prior to this promotion, Dr. Umeoji held the position of Deputy Managing Director at the bank since October 28, 2016, bringing with her extensive banking experience spanning nearly three decades, with the majority of her career dedicated to Zenith Bank. Her educational background is impressive, including studies at prestigious institutions such as Harvard Business School and Columbia Business School, where she completed programs in Advanced Management and Global Banking, respectively. Dr. Umeoji holds multiple degrees, including a bachelor’s degree in Sociology, Accounting, and a first-class honours degree in Law from various universities. She furthered her education with a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, a Master in Business Administration from the University of Calabar, and a doctorate in Business Administration from Apollos University in the USA. Additionally, Dr. Umeoji has acquired a Certificate in Economics for Business from MIT Sloan School of Management and has participated in various management programs globally, including the Strategic Thinking and Management program at Wharton Business School in the USA.
