MANAGING DIRECTOR / CEO
ZENITH Bank Sierra Leone
Chijioke Wamadi Ejilemele is a graduate of University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria with M.Sc degree in Economics (Monetary Economics major) and Post Graduate Diploma in Development Economics. He equally trained at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Nigeria graduating in 1991 with Post Graduate Diploma and M.Sc in Food Science & Technology. Prior to that, he had obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and in 1998 he obtained Post Graduate Diploma in Business Studies from University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
An alumnus of the London Business School, Executive Management and Leadership Program. In the last twenty seven years he attended several local and international technical courses in finance, treasury, business management, marketing & relationship management; credit portfolio management and banking operations. Other trainings were project management, international trade finance, risk management, business economics, controls and regulations. He is a Member of Nigeria Institute of Management.
He started his banking career in 1993 in Lagos with the Treasury Operations and Funds Transfer departments of Citizens Bank Ltd. His basic banking skills were developed there, working in all core departments of Banking Operations
Quickly he rose to the position of Corporate/Institutional Banking Group Head in 2001 with First City Monument Bank, Plc, Port Harcourt. In 2003 he was appointed the Manager of its only main branch in Port Harcourt. He was responsible for significantly turning around the financial performance of the bank by over 350% in key parameters and profitability by over 180%. He was a key player in the development of the bank’s franchise in the South-South region of Nigeria
Chijioke was hired in 2005 by Zenith bank as Manager responsible for developing the bank’s Oil & Gas businesses in Nigeria’s Main Oil and Gas Operational area of Port Harcourt. The new products and services introduced with his team ensured multi-billion naira and multi-million dollar portfolios management growth of over 175%. The businesses included the International Oil Companies and other multinational organizations. He was subsequently, appointed to lead the bank’s business in Yenagoa and Aba Road, Port Harcourt branches as a Senior Manager. In 2012 he was elevated to Assistant General Manager Position and Zonal Head covering parts of Rivers and Bayelsa States. He and his team in a disciplined fashion executed the strategies that transformed the zone to a high performing and exemplary one. Along his career path, he equally worked in some departments of the bank’s Corporate Head Office, Lagos.
His core areas of expertise and practice include transformational team building, business development and strong relationship management, retail banking, emerging markets enterprises, infrastructural financing, public sector finance, Oil & Gas businesses, international trade finance, treasury management, financial intermediation and general banking. His business Economics skills are veritable assets to his organization, varied clients with diverse portfolios, and colleagues. He has successfully deployed these skills and senior management experiences with his teams to significantly grow business portfolios of both local and international corporations. These are not limited to developing and managing big ticket names but also quantum growths in asset portfolios, deposit base, revenue and profitability and equally staying two digits below budgeted costs.
A very passionate leader, banker, business Manager and Professional coach. He is focused on building excellent productive teams, using modern technology and best practices in exceeding deliverables to customers and providing exceptional values to all stake holders even in the most challenging environment. He was appointed the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of Zenith Bank (Sierra Leone) Ltd in November 2019.
He is married with children. He loves traveling, reading, sports, hiking and wild life conservation activities.