Diageo Africa has appointed Kenyan international business executive John Musunga to lead its newly formed South, West and Central Africa (SWC) market effective January 1, 2024.

Musunga is set to assume the leadership role at Diageo SWC as the Managing Director, based in London as part of a new operating model that Diageo Africa has espoused.

The Kenyan has been heading the firm’s Nigeria subsidiary, Guinness Nigeria, since October 2022 and also serves as a non-executive Director at East African Breweries Limited (EABL).

The company has restructured its operating region into three markets: EABL, which remains unchanged; Guinness Nigeria, marketing beer and mainstream spirits and the new SWC hub.

Diageo Africa President and Chief Commercial Officer Dayalan Nayager defined Musunga as a successful executive leader with vast knowledge and leadership experience spanning more than 20 years across Africa.

Read More

  1. EABL marketing boss Anne Joy Michira takes the wheel at Diageo's SWC region
  2. Kenya Breweries MD John Musunga appointed new CEO of Guinness Nigeria

In the new model, the new SWC business market will cover Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean and West and Central Africa, including the businesses in Ghana, Cameroun, Ethiopia, South Africa and Seychelles.

In Nigeria, the Guinness Nigeria PLC Board appointed Adebayo Alli (Bayo) as the incoming MD & CEO of the Company, effective January 1, 2024, ahead of the exit of Musunga.

“Even as I look forward with excitement to my new role as the first Managing Director for Southern, West & Central Africa, 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,” said Musunga.

He added, “I am confident that Bayo and the management team will take the business of Guinness Nigeria to even greater heights in the coming years.”

Musunga joined Diageo in 2021 as Kenya Breweries Limited MD and he recently steered the Nigeria business through tough times to deliver the highest engagement scores in Africa and Diageo.

Before joining Kenya Breweries Limited, he worked at the global pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), where he served in varied senior regional and global positions.