BOARD OF DIRECTORS

JIM OVIA, Chairman

Jim Ovia is Co-Founder and pioneer Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc. He has over 23 years banking experience, including IMB, where he rose from the level of financial analyst in 1980 to a management position in 1987. He headed corporate finance department of Merchant Bank of Africa, 1987 to 1990.

He gained early experience in the use of computer in 1977 when he worked as a part-time computer operator at Baton Rouge Bank & Trust Company, Louisiana.

Jim Ovia is currently serving on the board of various organisations, including: Nigerian Investment Promotion Council, Nigerianet (British Council Internet Portal, Lagos), Redeemer’s University, Lagos (under formation). He is the proprietor of University of Information and Communication Technology, Agbor, Delta State (under formation). He had also served on the board of American International School, Lagos (2001-2003) and a profound leadership role as the first President of Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) (2001-2003).

In November 2000, Jim Ovia was conferred with the national award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the President, Federal Government of Nigeria. He had earlier received the Zik Award for professional leadership in April 1999.

Jim Ovia has a master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) from University of Louisiana, Louisiana in 1979 and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern University, Louisiana, 1977. He is also an alumnus of Executive Education of Harvard University.

Jim Ovia is a motivational speaker and has delivered speeches at CTO, African IT and Conferences. He has authored several published and unpublished works. He is in the vanguard of promotion and propagation of ICT in Nigeria.

GODWIN EMEFIELE, Director

Godwin Emefiele was appointed the Bank’s Deputy Managing Director in 2001. Prior to this appointment, he was the Bank’s Executive Director in charge of Corporate Banking, Treasury, Financial Services and Strategic planning and has been on Zenith’s Management team since inception.

Mr. Emefiele has eighteen year’s banking experience, and holds a Bsc. and an MBA in Finance, both from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Before commencing his banking career. He has lectured Finance and Insurance at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, and University of Port Harcourt, respectively. He is also an alumnus of Executive Education at Stanford University, Harvard University and Wharton Graduate Schools of Business.

OSADEBE OSAKWE, Director

Mr. Osakwe graduated with a BSc in Accountacy in 1990 and a Masters Degree in Banking and Finance in 1992.

He joined Zenith Bank in 1993 and currently he is the Head of Investment Banking/Corporate Finance Group and has over 15 years post graduate experience.

Osadebe is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an alumnus of the Advanced Management Programme of the Lagos business School and the Strategy Programme of the London business School.

Peter Amangbo is an Executive Director in the Bank. He graduated with a B.Eng. in Electrical/Electronics from University of Benin in 1988 and holds an MBA. He worked in PricewaterHouseCoopers, before moving over to Zenith Bank Plc in 1993.
He has over 16years postgraduate experience out of which he spent 12years in the banking industry and 4years experience in PricewaterHouseCoopers.

Pamela Yough is a General Manager with the Bank in charge of Multilateral, Conglomerate and Private Banking (MCP Group) and also Group Head, Treasury/Correspondent Banking. She holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration from Pace University, New York (1984) and an MBA in International Business
from Long Island University, New York (1986). She joined Zenith Bank in 1999 from Citizens Bank and prior to that was in International Merchant Bank, where she started her banking career. She has over 17 years of banking experience.