Guinness Nigeria appoints Alli as new MD/CEO

… New transition sees Musunga take Diageo Africa role

Business a.m

Guinness Nigeria PLC has announced a leadership transition, with Adebayo Alli being appointed as the incoming managing director and chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2024.

The appointment by the board follows the move of the current MD/CEO, John Musunga, into a new role as the first managing director for Southern, West and Central Africa (SWC) within Diageo. Musunga will remain in his current role until the end of 2023 to ensure a smooth handover to Alli, in line with the company’s succession planning strategy.

The board of Guinness Nigeria PLC, in a statement,  commended Musunga for his leadership over the past two years, during which time he delivered a strong performance for the business in challenging economic conditions. In addition to shaping a new strategy for Guinness Nigeria, Musunga also achieved high levels of employee engagement.

Adebayo Alli, the incoming managing director and CEO of Guinness Nigeria, joined Diageo in 2005 and has since held a variety of senior leadership roles across the business. He has a wealth of experience in supply chain management, manufacturing, programme management, and sales, and has a track record of driving transformation and growth in complex and challenging environments. In addition to his strong leadership skills, Alli is known for his commitment to building high-performing teams and creating inclusive and diverse work environments.

“Alli is known for his deliberate focus on people and his many bold bets across supply and commercial has helped unlock business and personal growth for many of his colleagues thereby ensuring robust succession plans. His purpose is to add value to the world by inspiring others, especially Africans, to cause the transformations he wants to see and leave everything better than he met it,” the company stated.

Guinness Nigeria described Alli as a commercially savvy leader with a track record of achieving results through collaboration and transformation. His educational background includes a BSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Ibadan and an MSc in Advanced Process Engineering from Loughborough University in the United Kingdom.

Omobola Johnson, the chair of the board of Guinness Nigeria, in his remark on the  leadership changes,said “The appointment of Bayo Alli, a member of  Guinness Nigeria’s  executive leadership team as the incoming MD/CEO speaks to the commitment of Guinness Nigeria and Diageo to nurturing great talent and developing a deep leadership bench in the business. The Board is  excited at this appointment and looks forward to working closely with Bayo as he takes on this leadership role at a very important time for the business. The board also specially appreciates and thanks John for the  contributions made during his  brief but remarkably  impactful time as  the MD of Guinness Nigeria and wish him success in his new and well deserved role.”

Speaking on the imminent leadership change, John Musunga, the outgoing MD/CEO said “Even as I look forward with excitement to my new role in Diageo Africa as the first Managing Director for Southern, West & Central Africa (SWC), I am thrilled for the business of Guinness Nigeria which I will be leaving in the very capable hands of a strong and committed executive management team now to be led by Bayo, a truly exceptional and visionary business leader. I am confident that Bayo and the management team will take the business of Guinness Nigeria to even greater heights in the coming years.”