Kennedy Uzoka has taken over as the new Group MD/CEO of United Bank for Africa. He assumed office on the 1st of August, upon Phillips Oduoza’s retirement on the 31st of July 2016.
Before taking up the mantle of leadership as the new GMD/CEO of UBA, Uzoka was the Deputy Managing Deputy of UBA, a position he held in the last six years.
“Kennedy Uzoka’s appointment has once again proven the resilience of our succession planning process and the value we place on having in place a strong corporate governance system,” said Tony Elumelu, Chairman, UBA.
Uzoka has over two and half decades of experience in commercial banking, strategy and business transformation.
Prior to his sabbatical at Harvard, Uzoka served as Deputy Managing Director, UBA Group and was also the CEO of UBA Africa, responsible for the group’s operations in 18 countries across Africa.
A multiple award winner, Uzoka, has also supervised other key areas in the bank including e-banking and information technology in its New York and London offices in addition to strategic support groups such as human resources, legal advisory services, procurement and vendor management, corporate relations and marketing, among others.
As a well-rounded banker, Uzoka has had direct and oversight supervision of critical business functions like Group Treasury and International Financial Institutions and Transaction Banking, Pensions Custodian, Consumer Banking and Cash Management.
He was at various times Head, Strategy and Business Transformation; Regional Bank Head, South Bank covering 17 states in Southern part of Nigeria; Regional-Director South-east, Vice President Northern Nigeria, Chief Marketing Officer, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Marketing Officer, Lagos, and Managing Executive Officer respectively.
“Uzoka brings an extremely strong skill set and a wealth of financial services experience that will help the bank execute the next phase of its growth strategy. I have no doubt that he has the expertise and depth of business experience to ensure that the bank is best positioned to deliver on its strategic aspirations to be the most respected and trusted African financial brand globally,” Elumelu said.
