Unga Group taps into expertise of Premier Foods’ CEO Joseph Choge to be its new MD
KENYA – Unga Group Limited, a major grain miller in Kenya, has announced the retirement of its long serving Managing Director Nicholas Hutchinson, effective December 31 2021.
The holding company with investments in flour milling and manufacturing of human nutrition products and animal feeds, has tapped into Premier Foods’ CEO Joseph Malel Choge, to take over from Mr Hutchinson from December 1.
The Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed company said in a notice that Hutchinson would continue in an advisory capacity for a while to ensure a smooth transition, reports Business Daily.
“The Board takes this opportunity to thank Nick for his significant contribution, dedication, sound advice and commitment to the company over his many years of service and wishes him the very best in his retirement,” stated Unga Group.
The newly appointed boss is a senior executive with vast experience within manufacturing in the fast-moving consumer goods, telecoms, banking, insurance and finance sectors.
Prior to joining the condiments and juice processing company, Choge worked with Industrial Promotion Services (IPS), Airtel Gabon, Unilever, among others, during which he held various senior positions.
He has a B.Sc. in Mathematics, Operations Research from University of Nairobi and MBA in International Management from University of London.
Unga Group is undertaking the leadership changes while also restructuring its business to ensure sustainable growth, cut costs and improve efficiency
The company has forged an investment agreement with Nutreco International B.V. to establish joint venture companies in Kenya and Uganda through its subsidiaries Unga Farm Care and Unga Millers.
Under the agreement, Unga Farm Care, the region’s leading manufacturer and marketer of a broad portfolio of quality animal nutrition and health products, will invest in the establishment of a 50:50 joint venture company in Kenya with the Dutch animal nutrition and aquafeed company, Nutreco.
The parties will further transfer their respective Kenyan aquafeed business and other assets to the new entity.
Meanwhile in neighbouring Uganda, Unga Millers and Nutreco are set to establish a JV company and the partners shall transfer or procure their respective Uganda animal feed and nutrition businesses and other assets.
The giant miller has also recently announced the planned sale of Ennsvalley Bakery assets to cold storage and cold chain logistics company, BigCold Kenya.
The transaction is subject to meeting certain conditions prior to completion
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