Pascal Dozie Positions Son As the Next MD of Diamond Bank

It is still a few years away but all is now in place for Pascal Dozie to enthrone his son at the helm of affairs of Diamond Bank. Just last week, The Board of Directors of Diamond Bank Plc made a very key announcement which insiders have revealed is a very carefully written and orchestrated script that will eventually propel Uzoma Dozie to the top. In the official announcement, Alex Otti, the thoroughbred banker from First Bank has been given a three year extension as Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer “in recognition and appreciation of the impact his leadership has had on the bank since March 2011” That was not the main announcement. The key announcement was that for the first time since its inception 23 years ago, Diamond Bank has appointed two Deputy Managing Directors- Uzoma Dozie erstwhile Executive Director, Corporate Banking and Regional Business Lagos/West and Caroline Anyanwu, who was Executive Director, Risk Management/Control. We gathered that the extension for Otti ‘s tenure is to give Uzoma, himself a thoroughbred banker, the time to grow into the exalted position and in three years’ time, he would have had 15 years at the top cadre! “It’s a done deal, everybody knows that this had always been the plan since he joined the bank” our source stated. It must be said that Alex Otti had done a very fantastic job with steadying the ship and making good progress at Diamond but the owners of the Bank see a future that does not include him at least in the MD position. If the dream of his dad eventually happens; it should be noted that Uzoma can hold the reins very well. Though he studied Chemistry at the University Of Reading, Berkshire, England and graduated in 1991, he holds an Msc in Chemical Research from the University College London and an MBA from Imperial College Management School. He had spent all his working life in the banking environment. Often confused with his look a-like brother, Chikezie, the studious Uzoma began his career in Banking at the Commercial Banking Unit of Guaranty Trust Bank. He later moved to Citizens Bank where he worked in the Oil and Gas Division. In 1998, he joined Diamond Bank as Asst. Manager/ head of Oil & Gas Unit. He was at a time, Head Financial Control, then Retail Banking (Where he spear-headed lifestyle-changing products. He was involved in two distinctive Business Units before his appointment as Executive Director in 2005. The Dozie’s would not be the first Nigerian family to transition from father to son, it would be recalled that Otunba Subomi Balogun of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) worked out the same succession plan that has now seen his third son, Ladipupo take over as current GMD/CEO.