Diageo, the parent company of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) has announced the promotion of Mr. Seni Adetu, erstwhile Managing Director of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited, to Group Managing Director, East African Breweries Limited (EABL) – the group of companies covering countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda etc headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya. The appointment takes effect July 1, 2009.

In the Statement, the company noted that Mr. Adetu joined Diageo 3 years ago as Managing Director/ Vice Chairman of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (after 14 highly successful years in very senior positions in Marketing, Commercial and General Management with Coca-Cola and having worked in several countries including Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya).

Mr. Adetu quickly settled in role at GGBL, stabilizing the business following the merging of Guinness Ghana Limited (GGL) and Ghana Breweries Limited (GBL) engaging external stakeholders to bring closure and ensuring full integration – including the folding up of GBL and transferring its employees to the new company – and creating a one-culture organization.

In his remarks, the Chairman of GGBL, Dr. Nick Blazquez stated, “under Mr. Adetu’s leadership over the last 3 years, GGBL has flourished, growing Net Sales Value and Profits double digits annually, consistently beating the competition, growing share price faster than total market at the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), developing a strong innovation pipeline with the introduction of Quench and Alvaro, strengthening commercial capability, providing access to clean water for nearly 350,000 Ghanaians, transforming GGBL culture with improved safety records and moving employee super engagement scores from 16% to 60%”.

Mr. Adetu and his team have been recognized within and without Diageo for these achievements and more – including Most Celebrated Business in Diageo International (F’08), Best Sales Force in the on-and-off trade within the beverage sector in F’09 (REL CONSULT) and top four placing in the Ghana Most Admired company index consistently in the last 3 years (GIPC/PWC).

Mr. Adetu will be replaced as Managing Director, GGBL by Mr. Ekwunife Okoli, who until recently was the Managing Director of Guinness Cameroon. Mr. Okoli is a highly experienced business executive, who has served with Diageo over 20 years, holding various senior positions including Marketing Director for Guinness Nigeria and Marketing Director for Guinness brand across Africa.

Dr. Nick Blazquez (who doubles as Managing Director, Diageo Africa) stated in the same statement “Mr. Okoli, in his time as Managing Director of Guinness Cameroon, led a transformation of that business; delivering ahead of plan, re-creating the route-to-market, growing market shares, establishing a strong innovation agenda and improved safety records, re-invigorating community programmes and transforming controls and compliance.

Both Mr. Adetu and Mr. Okoli will remain members of the Diageo Africa Executive Team.

The statement closed by thanking Mr. Adetu for his immense contribution to the Ghana business and wishing him well in his new role.