NIGERIA – The Board of Guinness Nigeria Plc has announced the notice of retirement of its long-serving and indefatigable Board Chair, Mr. Babatunde Savage by June 30, 2021.

After leading the board of Diageo’s Nigerian operating unit for over a decade, Mr. Savage will be replaced by the former Minister of Communication & Technology of Nigeria and Guinness Nigeria Board member, Dr. Omobola Johnson, who will assume the role of Board Chair with effect from 1st July 2021.

Babatunde Savage was appointed Chair of the Board of Guinness Nigeria in 2009 after working within the organization in a wide variety of executive roles for nearly 40 years.

“After almost 40 amazing years, like every good thing, my journey with Guinness Nigeria is coming to an end and this is my time to exit this stage.”

Guinness Nigeria Board Chair – Mr. Babatunde Savage

In his letter notifying the Board of his retirement, Mr. Savage expressed his pleasure at the opportunity to have been a part of the company’s story over the last four decades.

“After almost 40 amazing years, like every good thing, my journey with Guinness Nigeria is coming to an end and this is my time to exit this stage.

“I feel so proud of my association with this wonderful company with such rich heritage that constantly reminds you that you are standing on the shoulders of giants. Guinness Nigeria is and will always be family to me,” he said.

Prior to being the brewer’s Chair, he held various strategic senior roles, serving as the Company Treasurer, Director of Finance, Director of Corporate Planning, Company Secretary, Corporate Affairs Director, and Deputy Managing Director.

“I must express my sincere thanks to Mr. Savage for his invaluable contribution to the Board since his appointment as Board Chair in 2009, particularly also in my own time as managing director, and his unwavering commitment to the success of the Company since he joined Guinness Nigeria in 1983.

“On behalf of the Board and Management, I wish Mr. Savage the very best,” Mr. Babatunde Savage, the Managing Director, Baker Magunda said.

On the appointment of Dr. Omobola Johnson as Savage’s successor, the Vice-Chair of the Board and President, Diageo Africa, Mr. John O’Keeffe, who is also the chair of the Nominations, Governance & Remunerations Committee of the Board highlighted that Dr. Johnson brings a wealth of experience to the position.

“We are pleased to have Dr. Johnson as our in-coming Board Chair, especially because of the value and insight she has brought since her appointment as an Independent Non-Executive Director, and more recently as the chair of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee of the Board and member of the Nomination, Governance and Remunerations Committee in the last three years,” he said.

Dr. Johnson has over 30 years’ experience in both the private and public sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Commenting on her appointment, the former Country Managing Director for Accenture and now senior partner at TLCom Capital, a technology venture capital firm focused on Africa, said, “Guinness Nigeria is an excellent company with tremendous value creation opportunities, and I believe the refreshed Board and the Management Team will remain committed to carrying on the excellent tradition of the Company led by Mr. Savage in achieving outstanding performance and maximizing shareholder value.”

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