NIGERIA – Monument Distillers Nigeria Limited (MDN) has appointed Mr Godwin Oche as its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), joining from International Breweries, the Nigerian Subsidiary of the world’s biggest brewer AB InBev.

Prior to his appointment he was Regional Director/ General Manager of AB InBev’s brewery in Onitsha a position he acquired after the integration of SABMiller and AB InBev in 2016.

He was later appointed as National Sales Director and Executive Board Member of International Breweries Plc where is credited with championing the business’s growth agenda to delivering significant volume and market share growth, ultimately contributing to growing the company from fourth- to second-largest beer company in Nigeria.

With over 18 years working experience cutting across various sectors of the economy he has worked at Ashaka Cem a Cement Industry, NNPC an Oil & Gas company, United Bank for Africa, Crusader insurance, Paradise Holiday, Cremad Creations, Johnson Ventures, Lucky Fibre/Nobel carpet, British American Tobacco and Jetlink and IT company.

Mr Oche is a Chemical Engineer by training and his qualifications include a PGD in Business Administration and an MBA in Marketing from Enugu State University of Science and Technology Business School.

According to a report by Beverage Industry News Nigeria, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultant (FIMC), a member of the Nigeria Institute of Marketing (MNIM), a member of the Nigeria Institute of Personnel Management (MIPM) and is also a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) by the International Council of Management Consulting Institute (ICMCI).

Commenting the appointment Michael Ajukwu, Board Member, MDN, said, “We are thrilled that someone of Mr Oche’s calibre and experience is joining our Monument Distillers Nigeria team.”

“We are looking forward to Mr Oche making a big impact on our business and accelerating the growth of our brands – which he understands well given he worked on them when at AB InBev.”

“We believe Mr Oche will enjoy the challenges of moving from a beer business to a spirits business and that he is the right person to drive our vision of building MDN into a market-leading spirits company in Nigeria.”

Monument Distillers Nigeria Limited (MDN) was launched in Nigeria in March 2019 with the acquisition of the 1960 Rootz Bitters brand from International Breweries Plc (AB InBev Nigeria) and a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant.

Kensington Distillers & Vintners (KDV) is the holding company for Monument Distillers, which has operations in Nigeria and Kenya and plans to roll out business in other African markets as part of its long-term vision to building a pan-African drinks business.

MDN has the distribution rights to a range of global brands from leading US spirits company, Sazerac, including Southern Comfort, Popov Vodka, Myers Rum, Paddy’s Irish Whisky, Firewater, and Buffalo Trace Bourbon.

The distiller will soon be launching international brands, Jose Cuervo Tequila and Bushmills Whiskey to add to their growing portfolio which already includes Four Cousins Wine, and international brands Bannerman’s Finest Scotch Whisky, and Grace du Roi Fine Wine, owned by MDN’s parent company Kensington Distillers & Vintners.