NIGERIA – The Coca-Cola Company has appointed Alfred Olajide as the new Vice President and Managing Director for its Nigeria operations following the global reorganization of the company’s leadership structure.
Alfred Olajide has worked with the company for several years having served in different capacities across the African continent including Franchise Director for Cluster Markets in the Southern and Eastern Africa Region, Director of Revenue Growth Management in the East and Central Africa Region, and Strategy Head for Nigeria Franchise.
He replaces Yebeltal Getachew whose tenure ended December 31st, 2020 after being at the helm barely two years.
Alfred holds a First-Class Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and an MBA from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom.
His extensive experience in leading market growth, strategy and operations management built from years in management consulting and FMCG will undoubtedly help drive business growth, strategy formulation, and market execution, in the Coca-Cola Nigeria franchise operations.
“These are very exciting times for the global Coca-Cola business, and I look forward to contributing my own quota to a business I love so much, especially at such an interesting time as this.
“Nigeria is a huge market, and I am optimistic about the growth we can achieve together with our bottling partners,” said Alfred.
In August 2020, The Coca-Cola Company announced a global restructuring aimed at furthering the leading beverage company’s aspiration to emerge stronger amidst a fast-changing global business environment.
The new structure sees its erstwhile 17 Business Units compressed into 9 Operating Units focused on strategic local and regional business objectives supported by the company’s newly created Platform Services.
The new changes has also brought about leadership shake-up across the company’s global operations.
“These are very exciting times for the global Coca-Cola business, and I look forward to contributing my own quota to a business I love so much, especially at such an interesting time as this.”
Managing Director – Alfred Olajide
Meanwhile, the beverage giant has appointed Patricia Obozuwa as a Vice President for its African operation to coordinate communications, sustainability, and government affairs for the soft drinks maker.
Prior to the appointment, she was the Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer for the General Electric Africa (GE Africa), a position she had held since April 2012.
Being a pioneer of the public relations function in most places she has worked in, she was Head, External Relations, Nigeria and Corporate Communication Leader, Sub-Saharan Africa at Procter & Gamble (P&G).
Patricia has also worked with the British Council in Nigeria.
She is a Non-Executive Director of The Water Trust (US-Headquartered Non-Profit Organization) and a member of the Lagos State Industry Advisory Board for the Yaba ICT Hub/Cluster project.
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