NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 5 – East African Breweries Ltd (EABL) Managing Director Gerald Mahinda will be leaving the company in July after nine years at the helm of the blue chip company.
According to a statement from the company, Mr Mahinda will be moving to South Africa to head a tripartite venture between Diageo, Heineken and Namibia Breweries Ltd called Brandhouse.
“He shall also manage all of Diageo’s other interests in the Southern African region including la Reunion,” the statement indicated.
Diageo is the largest alcohol beverage company in the world and created Brandhouse four years ago. Brandhouse is built on the concept of combining the best aspects of the three companies in terms of brands, people and ways of working, in order to grow faster and further than any of the individual companies could do alone.
The joint venture began trading in the South African market on July 1 2004.
EABL is the second biggest company by market capitalisation in Kenya. Mr Mahinda will be replaced at the helm of the brewer by Seni Adetu, immediate former Managing Director of Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd.
Mr Adetu joined EABL three years ago from Coca Cola Ltd.
Mr Mahinda joined EABL as the Group Finance and Strategy Director in 1999, a position he held until 2003. He rose to the position of Group MD in 2004 following a short tenure as Strategy and Change Director of Guinness Nigeria plc.
