Zenith Bank has announced the appointment of Adaora Umeoji as its first female Group Managing Director/Chief Executive.

The appointment, effective from June 1, 2024, is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, whose five-year term as Group Managing Director/Chief Executive expires on May 31, 2024, will be succeeded by Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji.

Her appointment marks a significant milestone as the first female GMD/CEO in the history of the bank.

According to Zenith Bank’s statement on Tuesday, Umeoji has been serving as the bank’s Deputy Managing Director since October 28, 2016.

With approximately 30 years of banking experience, 26 of which were spent at Zenith Bank, she brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her new role.

“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,” the bank statement further read.

“She 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 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.”

Umeoji’s extensive experience and academic background position her well to lead the bank into its next phase of growth and development.