On Nov. 30, 2023, Guinness Nigeria’s Board announced the appointment of Adebayo Alli as the new Managing Director and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2024. This appointment follows the upcoming transition of John Musunga, the current MD/CEO, to a new role within Diageo as the first Managing Director for Southern, West, and Central Africa (SWC).
Musunga will continue in his current role until the end of 2023, ensuring a smooth handover to Alli. This transition is part of the company’s leadership change and succession planning strategy. The board expressed its gratitude to Musunga for his exceptional leadership during his tenure, under which the company achieved significant performance improvements and strategic reshaping despite challenging conditions.
Alli, who joined Diageo in 2005, brings a wealth of experience from various senior leadership roles across manufacturing, supply, and commercial sectors. Known for his transformative and collaborative leadership style, Alli has a track record of driving business units to success, optimizing supply chains, and leading commercial organizations to breakthroughs in challenging environments.
In 2013, Alli moved to Ethiopia for an international assignment, where he led a business transformation project at Diageo’s Meta Abo Brewery Limited. He quickly advanced to Plant Manager and was later appointed Supply Chain Director in 2015. His leadership in Ethiopia was marked by cultural awareness, inclusivity, and mission-driven breakthroughs.
Alli returned to Nigeria in 2017 as Operations Director and transitioned to commercial roles, eventually becoming the Commercial Director of Guinness Nigeria. In this role, he has spearheaded significant growth in net sales value, gross profits, and market share, transforming the commercial team with a focus on digital innovation and technological solutions.
Dr. Omobola Johnson, Chair of the Board of Guinness Nigeria, praised Alli’s appointment as a testament to the company’s commitment to nurturing talent and developing leadership. She expressed the board’s excitement to work with Alli and acknowledged Musunga’s impactful contributions, wishing him success in his new role.
Musunga, reflecting on his transition, expressed confidence in leaving Guinness Nigeria in the capable hands of Alli and the executive management team. He anticipates further growth and success for Guinness Nigeria under Alli’s visionary leadership.
