Zenith Bank Appoints Adaora Umeoji as First Female GMD/CEO

Zenith Bank has named Adaora Umeoji as its first female Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Umeoji’s appointment, which takes effect from June 1, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the bank’s history, as she will be the first woman to hold this position since the inception of the bank.

Umeoji, who currently serves as the bank’s Deputy Managing Director, boasts an impressive 30-year career in the banking industry, with 26 of those years spent at Zenith Bank.

Her extensive experience and strong academic background make her an ideal candidate for the role.

Umeoji 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.

In addition, she has a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, United Kingdom, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Calabar, and a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.

She is also an alumnus of the prestigious Harvard Business School and Columbia Business School.

Before her latest appointment, Umeoji had been serving as the bank’s Deputy Managing Director since October 28, 2016.

Her appointment is consistent with the bank’s executive transition tradition, succession plan, and strategy of grooming leaders from within.

As the first female GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank, Adaora Umeoji’s appointment is a testament to the bank’s commitment to promoting gender diversity and equality in leadership positions.

Her wealth of experience and strong academic background make her well-equipped to lead the bank into a new era of growth and success.