Global beverage giant, Coca-Cola has continued to appoint Nigerians into its key and strategic leadership roles in Africa. The multinational company has just announced Alfred Olajide as its new Vice President and Managing Director of Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited.
Late last December, it also appointed Patricia Obozuwa as its Vice President, Government Affairs, Communications & Sustainability for Africa. The appointments into Nigeria and Africa operations, a further testament of the company’s commitment towards harnessing Nigerian talents as growth drivers, also follow a reorganization of Coca-Cola’s global leadership structure.
Alfred Olajide brings several years of experience to bear in his new role, nine of which were at Coca-Cola having served in different capacities across the African Continent including Franchise Director for Cluster Markets in the Southern and Eastern Africa Region, Director of Revenue Growth Management in the East and Central Africa Region, and Strategy Head for Nigeria Franchise.
In August 2020, Coca-Cola announced a global restructuring aimed at furthering the leading beverage company’s aspiration to emerge stronger amidst a fast-changing global business environment.
The new structure sees its erstwhile 17 Business Units compressed into 9 Operating Units focused on strategic local and regional business objectives supported by the company’s newly created Platform Services.
Announcing the change in structure, Company Chairman and CEO James Quincey, noted that the changes in the company’s operating model will shift marketing to drive more growth and “put execution closer to customers and consumers while prioritizing a portfolio of strong brands”.
Speaking about his new role, Alfred said; “These are very exciting times for the global Coca-Cola business, and I look forward to contributing my own quota to a business I love so much, especially at such an interesting time as this. Nigeria is a huge market, and I am optimistic about the growth we can achieve together with our bottling partners”.
Alfred holds a First-Class Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria and an MBA from the University of Leicester, United Kingdom.
His extensive experience in leading market growth, strategy and operations management built from years in management consulting and FMCG will undoubtedly help drive business growth, strategy formulation, and market execution, in the Coca-Cola Nigeria Franchise Operations.
Alfred Olajide replaces Yebeltal Getachew whose tenure ended December 31st, 2020.
In her own remarks, Obozuwa said, “I’m super excited to join the Coca Cola Company’s Africa Leadership Team as the Vice President, Government Affairs, Communications & Sustainability for Africa.”
Before joining Coca Cola Company, she has served as the Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer for GE Africa – a position she was initially appointed to in April 2012.
“In 2016, Patricia established the ‘GE Lagos Garage,’ a hub for advanced manufacturing skills development that has produced over 250 graduates in Nigeria to date (June 2018). She is the founding co-hub leader of the GE Women’s Network for Sub-Saharan Africa.”
She has also served as a Head, External Relations, Nigeria and Corporate Communication Leader, Sub-Saharan Africa at Procter & Gamble (P&G) and also Arts and Sponsorship Manager for the British Council in Nigeria.
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