Africa: East African Breweries CEO to head Diageo’s JV Brandhouse

After ten years of work at East African Breweries, CEO Gerald Mahinda is to leave the company on July, 1, the company announced on June, 5.

Mr. Mahinda moves to the Republic of South Africa as Managing Director of Brandhouse, a three-way joint venture between Diageo, Heineken and Namibia Breweries 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.

In recognition of his great contributions to EABL, Mr. Mahinda has been appointed to lead Diageo plc’s business in South Africa as Managing Director of Brandhouse. He shall also manage Diageo’s other interests in the southern African region including la Reunion.

The South African business is very important to Diageo and its partners. Since its creation four years ago, Brandhouse has doubled trading profit, led the growth of the premium sector and increased its employee base to over 900 people. Most recently, Diageo and Heineken announced a joint venture to build a brewery at Sedibeng near Johannesburg that will be commissioned later this year.

Mr. Mahinda will be replaced at EABL by Mr. Seni Adetu, immediate former Managing Director of Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd.

10 June, 2009