Guinness Nigeria appoints Grainne Wafer as non-executive director

By Cynthia Ezekwe

Guinness Nigeria Plc, has announced the appointment of Grainne Wafer as a non-executive director of its board,  with effect from 25 January 2023.

The company, which is a  subsidiary of Diageo Plc of the United Kingdom, disclosed this in a corporate disclosure signed by Rotimi Odusola, its company secretary.

The appointment follows the retirement of Mark Sandys from the board of Guinness Nigeria Plc which took effect from 25  January 2023.

According to the disclosure, the  company expects the new appointee to bring to the Board extensive marketing experience having held leadership roles across commercial, innovation and marketing functions within the Diageo business.

The board also expressed  optimism over  Wafer’s appointment, as they believe her  invaluable experience and passion for inclusion and diversity would be of great benefit by driving improved performance and sustainable business growth for the Company.

Prior to Wafer’s appointment, she served as the global director for Guinness, Beer, Baileys and Smirnoff at Diageo Company, with the responsibility of  leading Diageo’s premium core category globally.  In addition to being a part of the global marketing leadership team, she was part of those who led Diageo’s progressive portrayal programme globally.

Wafer was  also the  joint lead of Diageo’s progressive portrayal programme globally and is the Diageo representative for the UNstereotype Alliance, a United Nation (UN) and industry wide platform which seeks to eradicate harmful gender-based stereotypes in advertising and represents Diageo on the World Federation of Advertisers Diversity Task Force.

The new director  has also worked with Diageo for over 20 years, with functions spreading across a variety of brands, including local, European and global roles spanning communications, brand marketing, innovation and commercialisation.