Uzoma Dozie is the new Diamond bank boss

The Board of Diamond Bank Plc, has announced the appointment of Mr. Uzoma Dozie as its
new Group Managing Director/CEO following the voluntary retirement of the Group Managing
Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Alex Otti. Mr. Dozie’s appointment is subject to the
approval of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The bank’s Board approved the appointment of Uzoma Dozie as Group Managing Director/CEO
designate subject to CBN approval.
Dozie, 45, began his banking career two decade ago spanning various roles and functions
related to Credit and Marketing, Planning and Financial Control and Business Process Re-
engineering.
He is currently the driving force behind the bank’s market leadership in the Nigerian Retail
Banking space, championing major innovations in e-banking (Diamond Mobile app), banking
the un-banked (Diamond Yello and BETA proposition) and masterminding the strategy for
promoting a seamless transition to a cashless economy.
Uzoma Dozie graduated in 1991 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the
University of Reading, Berkshire England. He obtained a Master of Science degree in Chemical
Research from University College, London in 1992. As he progressed in his professional career,
he enrolled at the Imperial College Management School, London, where he obtained an MBA
with specialisation in Finance (MBA finance) in 1998.
He started his banking career from Guaranty Trust Bank Plc in 1993 where he worked in the
Commercial Banking Unit, and later moved to Citizens International Bank Limited where he
worked in the Oil and Gas Division. In 1998, he joined Diamond Bank Plc as an Assistant
Manager and Head of the Bank’s Oil and Gas Group where he expanded the Bank’s Oil and Gas
businesses.
Having acquired years of experience in business development, Uzoma moved to the Financial
Control Group of the Bank in 2000 and rose through the ranks to become the bank’s Financial
Controller. As the Financial Controller, Uzoma was charged with the responsibility of managing
the bank’s balance sheet, developing various MIS reports and reporting the bank’s financial
records to regulatory authorities.
While in Financial Control, Uzoma served in various Management Committees including the
Assets and Liabilities Committee, Cost Management Committee, Personnel Management
Committee, New Products Committee, Management Credit Committee, and other ad hoc
Committees at various times. He implemented various initiatives including laying the
foundation for the deployment of paperless office programs and improved Management
Information Systems.
In 2004, Uzoma spent time with the Amalgamated Bank of South Africa (ABSA) where he was
exposed to the rudiments of Retail Banking and Wealth Management, Organizational Behaviour
and Human Resources Management. Upon his return, he set up the Personal Banking Group
with focus on offering propositions to the Affluent and Mass Market customer segments (Retail
Business). Uzoma developed various partnerships with business franchises for retail business
growth, created market awareness and developed various retail propositions to drive liability
generation.
Following his success in Personal Banking, Uzoma was appointed an Executive Director in
2006. In 2008, he was reassigned the Corporate Banking portfolio where he was responsible for
managing and developing relationships in Oil and Gas, Power, Infrastructure, Construction,
General Commerce and Manufacturing businesses. In 2010, Uzoma’s responsibilities were
expanded to include acting as the Bank’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) following the retirement
of the erstwhile CFO. As the acting CFO, Uzoma oversaw the Bank’s corporate strategy,
Financial Management, Business Transformation and Investor Relations.
In February 2011, following the appointment of a new CFO, Uzoma’s responsibility was
modified to cover Corporate Banking and all Businesses in Lagos and Western region. While in
charge of Corporate Banking and Regional Business, Lagos, Uzoma developed and nurtured
business clienteles in the middle market and national corporate segments, in addition to his
corporate banking functions.
In January 2014, he was re-assigned to the Retail Banking Directorate and appointed Deputy
Managing Director in April 2014.
During his banking career, Uzoma attended various local and offshore training programs
including the High Performance Leadership Program in IMD International, Sao Paulo, Brazil;
Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School; Credit Risk Analysis and
Management at Citibank, New york. He is currently the Secretary of Harvard Business School
Alumni Association of Nigeria (HBSAN).
The board believes that Uzoma’s wealth of experience, remarkable leadership skills and strong
mentorship capabilities will serve to help the Bank achieve its short and long term goals
especially in the highly competitive Banking industry in Nigeria.