Zenith Bank Plc has announced the appointment of Dame Adaora Umeoji, OON, as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2024, pending approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). She succeeds Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose successful five-year term ends on May 31, 2024.

Dame Adaora Umeoji marks a historic milestone as the first female GMD/CEO in the bank’s history, aligning with its tradition of executive succession and leadership development. Prior to this role, Dr. Umeoji served as the Deputy Managing Director of Zenith Bank since October 28, 2016, accumulating nearly three decades of banking experience, with twenty-six years dedicated to Zenith Bank.

She is a distinguished alumna of Harvard Business School and Columbia Business School, holding various degrees and certifications including a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology from the University of Jos, Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, First-Class honors in Law from Baze University, Abuja, and a Master of Laws from the University of Salford, UK. Additionally, she earned an MBA from the University of Calabar and a doctorate in business administration from Apollos University, USA.

Dr. Umeoji’s commitment to professional development extends to prestigious institutions worldwide, including MIT Sloan School of Management and Wharton Business School, USA. She is a fellow of esteemed professional bodies and has been recognized nationally for her contributions, including being honored with the Officer of the Order of the Niger by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2022.

Beyond her professional achievements, Dr. Umeoji is renowned for her philanthropic endeavors, notably through NGOs such as the Pink Breathe Cancer Foundation and the Adorable Foundation, dedicated to cancer patient care and educating indigent children, particularly girls. Her humanitarian efforts earned her the Humanitarian Service Icon Award from the Sun Newspaper in 2023.

Driven by her passion for ethical banking and social welfare, Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, established the Catholic Bankers Association of Nigeria (CBAN) and holds memberships in prestigious international orders, including the Order of Knights of St. John International and the Papal Knight of the Order of St. Sylvester conferred by His Holiness Pope Francis.