UBA Group Appoints New Managing Director

For United Bank for Africa, a new Group Managing Director emerged on Tuesday. He is Kennedy Uzoka who had been Deputy Managing Director, UBA Group and was also the Chief Executive Officer of UBA Africa, responsible for the Group’s operations in 18 countries across Africa.

The group also has a new Deputy Managing Director, Victor Osadolor.

A press statement by the bank said its board approved both appointments on Tuesday, adding that Uzoka would, subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), assume his new position on August 1, 2016. He succeeds Phillip Oduoza, who retires on July 31, 2016, after two terms of leading the UBA Group.

According to the bank, Uzoka has been leading its transformation agenda after returning from an Advanced Management Programme at the Harvard Business School.

“Mr Uzoka has over two and a half decades of experience in commercial banking, strategy and business transformation. Prior to his sabbatical at Harvard, Mr 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,” the bank said.

Uzoka is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering from University of Benin and holds a Masters Degree in Business Administration from University of Lagos.

The new group deputy managing director, Osadolor, according to the bank’s statement, comes to office with a strong finance and risk background, having previously served as the Executive Director, Risk and Finance at UBA.

He also held the position of Chief Strategy Officer at Ecobank Transnational Incorporation. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Accountants of Nigeria, he also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting as well as an Advanced Management Programme Certificate from the Harvard Business School.

“Kennedy brings an extremely strong skill set and is ideally positioned to lead UBA in its next phase of growth. His most recent experience of managing the Group’s increasingly important African business, is particularly relevant, as we all work to build one of the leading financial services franchises in Africa. I have no doubt that both he and Victor with their expertise and depth of business experience will ensure that the Bank is best positioned to deliver on its strategic ambition.

“I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Phillips, for all that he has done for the Bank in guiding UBA through a particularly challenging period. The Board feels that the strong foundations created during Mr Oduoza’s term provide an excellent basis for our further success,” the bank’s statement quoted the Chairman of UBA Group, Mr. Tony Elumelu, on both appointments yesterday.