At Nigerian Breweries Plc, one of the biggest companies in Nigeria, here are the men and women who call the shots; the most powerful and the most influential…NB Plc is the pioneer and largest brewing company in Nigeria and was incorporated in 1946.
Nigerian Breweries Plc has a rich portfolio of high quality brands: Star larger beer was launched in 1949, followed by Gulder larger beer in 1970. Maltina, the nourishing malt drink, was introduced in 1976, followed by Legend Extra Stout in 1992 and Amstel Malta in 1994. Heineken larger beer was re-launched into the Nigerian market in 1998. Maltina Sip-it, packaged in Tetrapaks, was launched in 2005, while Fayrouz, the premium non-alcoholic soft drink, was launched in 2006. Climax, a herbal energy drink was launched in 2010. Following the acquisition of Sona Systems and Life Breweries in 2011, Goldberg larger, Malta God and Life Continental larger, were added to the brand portfolio. The company increased its portfolio of brands in 2014 with the addition of Ace Passion in addition to two line extension of the Star brand – Star Lite and Star Radler. Also in 2014 as a result of the merger with Consolidated Breweries, “33” Export larger beer, Williams dark ale, Turbo King dark ale, More larger beer and two malt drinks, Maltex and Hi Malt together with Breezer, a blend of rum and fruits (in three variants) became part of the company’s product offering. The company was listed on the floor of The Nigerian stock exchange (NSE) in 1973. As at 31st December, 2014, it had a market capitalization of approximately N1.25 trillion, making it the second largest company in Nigeria by market capitalization.
CHIEF KOLAWOLE B. JAMODU, CFR
Chairman
Chief Jamodu was appointed to the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director effective the 1st of March, 2006 and became the Chairman of the Board of Directors effective the 1st of January, 2008. He is a chartered accountant, an industrialist and a former Minister of Industry of the Federal Government of Nigeria. He was re-appointed as Chairman of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc. in 2014 after a previous stint as Chairman and Group Chief Executive of the PZ Group. He is a former Chairman of Universal Trust Bank Plc. He is the immediate past President of the Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MAN) and sits on the Board of United Bank for Africa Plc. Jamodu is again a member of the National Economic Management Team headed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mr. Nicolaas A. Vervelde
Managing Director/CEO
Mr. Vervelde was re-appointed a member of the Board of Directors effective the 1st of August, 2010 as well as the Managing Director/CEO effective same date. He was previously on the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director between 2001 and 2003 while as Deputy Director and later Director, Heineken Africa/Middle East. Mr. Vervelde started his career with Heineken in 1984 and held increasingly senior management positions in commercial and general management functions in Europe, Africa, Bahamas, Caribbean and Central America. He was, until the current position, the Managing Director for Heineken Caribbean, Central America and Latin America.
Mr. Olusegun S. Adebaji
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Adebanji was re-appointed to the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director effective 28th February, 2007. He was initially on the Board as an Executive Director between 1996 and 1998 when he was the company’s finance Director. His career path took him through Unilever and Heineken companies in Europe and Africa. He was at different times the Managing Director of Ghana Breweries Limited and Nambian Breweries Limited.
Chief Samuel O. Bolarinwa
Non-Executive Director
Chief Bolarinwa was appointed to the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director effective 11th February, 2015. He rose through the ranks to become Managing Director of Vitafoam Nigeria Plc and later Chairman of its Board of Directors. He is an industrialist and currently sits on the Boards of Toyota Nigeria Limited and Sunlink Petroleum Limited. He was a former Chairman of Wema Bank Plc as well as a former Non-Executive Director of the dissolved Consolidated Breweries Plc.
Mr. Walter L. Drenth
Marketing Director
Mr. Drenth was appointed to the Board of Directors effective the 15th of January, 2012. He joined the Heineken N.V. Group in December, 2003 as Global Marketing Communication Manager Heineken Brand. Before joining Heineken, he had worked with ABN Amro Bank N.V. in Hong Kong, Unilever N.V., and FHV/BBDO Creative Marketing Agency as International Strategic Planning Director, Mr. Drenth was the Marketing Director, Heineken Ireland and Northern Ireland prior to his joining the NB Plc. Board.
Mr. Hubert I. Eze
Sales Director
Mr. Eze joined the services of NB Plc. in 1992 in the Sales Department and subsequently rose through the ranks to become a Senior Manager. In 2007, he went on internationalization to Heineken Caribbean and Central America where he was the Commercial Excellence Manager and later the Marketing and Commercial Excellence Director. Prior to his appointment to the Board of Directors effective the 1st of September, 2010, Mr. Eze was the General Manager, Heineken Latin America Export.
Mr. Victor Famuyibo
Human Resource Director
Mr. Famuyibo was appointed to the Board of Directors effective the 8th of September, 2008. A lawyer and Human Resource expert, he joined the company in 1986 and has performed various Human Resource functions within the company. He was on internationalization at Heineken International B.V. The Netherlands, prior to his appointment to the Board. Mr. Famuyibo is the President and Chairman of Council, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria.
Mr. Sijbe (Slep) Hiemstra
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Hiemstra joined the Board of Directors effective the 1st of August, 2011 after becoming the Heineken Regional President for Africa and Middle East. He started his Heineken career in January 1978 holding commercial, general management and technical positions in different parts of Europe, Africa and Asia/Pacific. Before his current position, he was the Heineken Regional President for Asia Pacific.
Dr. Obadiah O. Mailafia
Non-Executive Director
Dr. Mailafia was appointed to the Board of Directors effective the 5th of December, 2014. Dr. Mailafia is a career economist, banker and international development specialist with over 25 years’ experience. He was an official of the African Development Bank Group. He is currently the Chief of Staff of the 80-member African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States based in Brussels, Belgium. He has served the Federal Government of Nigeria in different capacities – he was a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, he was a Special Adviser to the President on Economic and Policy Matters and was a Member of the Economic Management Team headed by the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mr. Thomas A. de Man
Non-Executive Director
Mr. de Man joined the Board of Directors of Nigerian Breweries Plc effective the 27th of February, 2003. He started with the Heineken N.V. Group in 1971 and has worked in Europe, Asia and Africa, including Malayan Breweries Limited, Singapore. Heineken Italia and as Brewery Manager in our Aba Brewery. He is the immediate past Heineken Regional President for Africa and Middle East.
Mrs. Ndidi O. Nwuneli, MFR
Non-Executive Director
Mrs. Nwuneli joined the Board of Directors effective the 5th of December, 2014. She is the Founder of LEAP Africa, Co-Founder of AACE Food Processing & Distribution, an indigenous agro-processing company, and a Partner at Sahel Capital, an advisory and private equity firm focused on the agribusiness sector in West Africa. She has considerable private sector experience and interests and sits on the Boards of Nestle Nigeria Plc and Cornerstone Insurance Plc.
Mrs. Ifueko M. Omoigui Okauru, MFR
Non-Executive Director
Mrs. Omoigui Okaru was appointed to the Board of Directors effective the 20th of February, 2013. She has over three decades of work experience with proven leadership ability at board and executive management levels in both the private and public sectors. She was the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which she led meritoriously for two consecutive terms. Mrs. Omoigui Okauru was also a member of the National Economic Management Team headed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. She is currently the Managing Partner of Compliance Professionals Plc, a consultancy company and also sits on the Boards of Central Securities Clearing System Plc, Diamond Bank Plc, ReStraL Ltd. and Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc. She is also a member of the Executive Committee of Women in Management, Business and Public Sector as well as Commissioner of a non-partisan body, the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT).
Mr. Atedo N.A. Peterside, CON
Non-Executive Director
Mr. Peterside was appointed to the Board of Directors effective the 21st of August, 2008. He is the Chairman of Stanbic IBTC Holding Plc as well as the President and Founder of ANAP Foundation, a non-profit organization that is committed to promoting Good Governance. He was the Chairman of the Committee that crafted the first Corporate Governance Code for Public Companies in Nigeria. He is the Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc and also sits on the Boards of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Standard Bank Group Limited, The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited and Unilever Nigeria Plc. He is a member of the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) and the Chairman of its (NCP) Technical Committee. He is also a member of the National Economic Management Team which is headed by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Mr. Mark P. Retten
financeDirector
Mr. Rutten was appointed to the Board of Directors of the company effective the 1st of August, 2014. He joined the Heineken N.V. Group in 2000 and has occupied various finance positions in Europe and Africa. Prior to his appointment to the Board, he was the Finance Director of Bralima Brewery (the Heineken operating company in Democratic Republic of Congo).
Mr. Hendrik A. Wymenga
Technical Director
Mr. Wymenga became a member of the Board of Directors effective 1st of September, 2010. He started his Heineken N.V. career in 1994 when he joined the Technological Department of Vrumona B.V., a subsidiary of the former. He has subsequently brought his technical expertise to bear in packaging, brewing, production and supply chain within the Heineken N.V. Group in Europe, the Caribbean and the Americas. Before his current appointment to the Board of Directors as the Technical Director, Mr. Wymenga was the Regional Supply Chain Manager, Heineken Americas.
Uaboi G. Agbebaku, Esq.
Company Secretary/Legal Adviser
Mr. Agbebaku was appointed as Secretary to the Board of Directors effective the 1st of January, 2008. He joined the company in January, 2003 as the Legal Affairs Manager. Before joining the company, he was in private practice as a legal practitioner with the law firm of David Garrik & Co.