United Bank for Africa Plc has formally welcomed Emmanuel Nnorom as its new Group Chairman, following the retirement of Tony Elumelu from the position.
The bank announced Nnorom’s assumption of office in a post on its social media platforms on Wednesday, describing him as a seasoned business executive and chartered accountant with more than 40 years of professional experience.
Nnorom officially became chairman on August 21, 2026, succeeding Elumelu, who stepped down after completing the maximum tenure allowed for non-executive directors under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s corporate governance guidelines.
UBA said Nnorom’s extensive experience within the group had positioned him to lead the financial institution at a significant stage of its expansion.
“We welcome Mr Emmanuel N. Nnorom as the new Group Chairman of United Bank for Africa Plc. A seasoned business leader and chartered accountant with over four decades of experience,” the bank stated.
Nnorom joined the UBA board as a Non-Executive Director in 2024 after holding several senior executive positions within the group.
His previous roles include Group Chief Operating Officer, Executive Director of the Group Executive Office, Executive Director of Finance, Executive Director of Risk and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of UBA Africa.
As head of UBA Africa, Nnorom was responsible for overseeing the bank’s operations across several African markets and played a role in strengthening its pan-African presence.
The bank said his familiarity with the institution’s operations and growth trajectory would be valuable as the group continues to expand across Africa and other international markets.
Before joining UBA’s board, Nnorom also held senior positions in various Nigerian companies and financial institutions.
He was President and Chief Executive Officer of Transnational Corporation Plc between September 2014 and May 2017 and has served as Group Chief Executive Officer of Heirs Holdings since June 2017.
His banking experience includes senior management positions at Standard Trust Bank, which later became part of UBA, as well as Diamond Bank, NUB International Bank and Liberty Merchant Bank.
Nnorom is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and an Honorary Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.
He also attended Templeton College, Oxford, where he completed executive programmes in leadership and management.
UBA had previously announced his appointment as Elumelu’s successor, with the transition taking effect on August 21.
The bank expressed confidence that Nnorom’s experience and knowledge of the group would help steer UBA through its next phase of growth across Africa and beyond.