Zenith Bank Appoints “Ada Anambra” Adaora Umeoji As GMD/CEO

Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, as

Group Managing Director/Chief Executive with effect from June 1, 2024, subject to approval

by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). She takes over from Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose

five-year term expires on May 31, 2024, after a very successful tenure. 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.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Umeoji has been the Deputy Managing Director of the bank

since October 28, 2016 and has close to thirty (30) years cognate banking experience of

which twenty-six (26) years has been with Zenith Bank.

She is an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School where she attended the

Advanced Management Program (AMP) and 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 honors in

Law from Baze University, Abuja. She holds a Master of Laws from the University of

Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of

Calabar, and also has a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.

She 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. She also attended the executive program in Strategic

Management, and has a Certificate in Leading Global Business all from Harvard Business

School, 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, as a recognition of her contributions to nation building. 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.

As a result of her passion for promoting professionalism in the banking industry and

improving the well-being of the less privileged, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON 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.

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