Zenith Bank Appoints First Female CEO Adaora Umeoji To Replace Onyeagwu

Zenith Bank Plc has appointed Dr. Adora Umeoji as the replacement for its Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Ebenezer Oneagwu.

Umeoji, who serves as the Deputy Managing Director of the bank, effectively becomes its first female GMD/ CEO.

The bank announced the development in a regulatory filing on Tuesday seen by THE WHISTLER.

The Board of Directors said the appointment will take effect from June 1, 2024, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“She takes over from Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose tenure expires on May 31, 2024. The appointment is consistent with the bank’s tradition and succession strategy of grooming leaders from within.” The bank disclosed.

The outgoing GMD/CEO Onyeagwu assumed the role on the 1st of June 2019.

Having served as Deputy Managing Director since October 28, 2016, she has close to thirty (30) years of cognate banking experience of which twenty-six (26) years have been with Zenith Bank.

The new GMD is an alumnus of 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.

Umeoj holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting and a First-Class honours in Law from Baze University, Abuja.

She also has 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.