Encomium
Expatriates have taken over practically all the key positions in the multinational companies operating in Nigeria. In some of these companies, non-Nigerian professionals now function as the MD/CEO while our people are made to deputise for them unlike before.
And because most of these multinationals are largely owned by foreign firms, they dictate who becomes what. One of the reasons for this is because of past experiences in the hands of Nigerian professionals. Some of whom have soiled their reputation because of the urge to amass wealth which made the foreign business owners believe their investments are no longer safe and can best be protected by their kinsmen.
ENCOMIUM Weekly brings you some of these multinational companies in Nigeria with foreign bosses…
NESTLE NIGERIA PLC
This food and beverage manufacturing company is currently been managed by a foreigner, Mr. Martin Woolnough. He took over from a Nigerian, Chief Olusegun Oshunkeye when the latter was elevated to the position of the company’s chairman in 2008. Woolnough distinguished career with Nestle Nigeria as national sales manager and director gave him an edge over others eyeing the same position. In fact, most of the company’s directors are foreigners. Nestle Nigeria Plc has its operational office in Ilupeju, Lagos. The company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1977 manufactures and distributes beverages and other consumable. Among their popular products are Milo and Nido.
GUINNESS NIGERIA PLC
Guinness Nigeria has its root in Guinness International, Dublin, Ireland and it engages in brewing, packaging and marketing of alcoholic drinks, malt drinks, mineral water and other bottled water. The establishment, with interest in Jos International Breweries, began operations in 1962 and is currently being managed by Mr. Delvin M. Hainsworth, who also took over from another foreigner, Mr. KRM Taylor. The company’s chairman is a Nigerian. They have over 1,170 staffers on their payroll. Guinness Nigeria Plc’s performance on the Nigerian Stock Exchange is reportedly impressive in recent times, thanks to Hainsworth who was drafted in at the last minute to rescue the company’s dwindling fortune.
Their popular products include Guinness Stout, Malta Guinness and Smirnoff Ice.
UNILEVER NIGERIA PLC
Unilever Nigeria Plc was incorporated as Lever Brothers in 1923. It started as a soap manufacturing company is today one of the oldest surviving manufacturing companies in Nigeria. After a series of mergers and acquisitions, it diversified into manufacturing and marketing of fast moving consumables. The company changed its name to Unilever Nigeria Plc in 2001 with 49 per cent of its equity holdings owned by Nigerians.
The erstwhile managing director of the company, Mr. Thomas Boedinger, a German, was unceremoniously thrown out after what was labelled boardroom crisis. The Apostle Hayford Alile-led board brought in a South African, Mr. Thabo Mabe to replace him. The company listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1973 has about 944 employees as its staff.
NIGERIAN BREWERIES PLC
NB Plc was incorporated in 1945, and remains the pioneer and the largest brewery company in Nigeria. The company is listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. Eze Festus Odimegwu, the former managing director left the company unceremoniously, undermining his achievement at the Orile Iganmu, Lagos-sited company. Mr. Michiel Herkermij was drafted to succeed him and when Herkermij was redeployed to Mexico to oversee Heineken business there, two Nigerians tipped for the top job, Mr. Oladele Ajayi and Mr. Victor Famuyibo, were at daggers drawn over who mounts the top post and when their bitter quarrel seemed to have divided the board of directors, the choice of Mr. Nico A. Vervelde came up. Hence ruining the chances of another Nigerian becoming the company’s managing director.
It was believed Vervelde will protect the huge investment Heineken has in NB Plc, makers of Gulder, Star, Maltina and Amstel Malta.
PZ CUSSONS NIGERIA
The company’s management team is made up of non-Nigerians. Mr. Christos Giannopoulos, a Greek, is the MD/CEO, next to him is another Greek, Mr. Tolis Loizos, Mr. Kevin Rodgers, a Briton is next, before the company’s corporate affairs director who is a Nigerian, Mrs. Yomi Ifaturoti. The company’s financial director is a Swedish, Anders Kristiansson. The chairman of the company is Chief E. C. Edozien. The company is a big player in the detergents, baby care, skin care, household and consumer electronics market.
CADBURY NIGERIA
After the shameful exit of the former MD, Mr. Bunmi Oni, over manipulation of financial records of the company, chances that another Nigerian will attain the height of the managing director became dimmed. Oni, who was sacked in 2006, rubbished the trust reposed in him as a professional with an unblemished record. The company’s dwindling fortune was quickly salvaged with the arrival of a new management team led by Mr. Alan Palmer, while Mr. Atedo Peterside was drafted as the chairman of the company. Former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the UK, Dr. Christopher Kolade, had served as Cadbury Nigeria MD/CEO and was even elevated to the position of the chairman. After he left, many still applaud his sterling contribution to the growth of the company while Mr. Bunmi Oni who only served as the managing director went underground after his shameful exit from the company.
NIGERITE LIMITED
Nigerite Limited cherishes its NIS ISO certification for quality product and believe only foreign hands can maintain that standard. Engr. Thierry Dumont, a French man is the current Managing Director of the company. Nigerite Limited is a venture between Odua Investment Corporation Limited and Etex Group, Belgium. The company located on 50 acres of land along Oba Akran, Ikeja, Lagos, manufactures fibre cement roofing ceiling sheets, concrete roofing tiles and floor tiles –but even with its Nigeria link, a foreigner runs it.
PROMASIDOR NIGERIA
Since coming into the market in 1993, Promasidor has held on to the powdered milk market with its Cowbell Milk brand. Currently, the company has about 1,015 people on its payroll all over Nigeria. The company, however, didn’t achieve all they have easily. The management team, led by Mr. Keith Richards ran the company to shareholders’ delight. Meaning that the chances of a Nigerian taking over are very slim.
FRIESLAND FOODS (WAMCO) NIGERIA PLC
A multinational company that develops, produces and sells a wide range of branded dairy and fruit based drinks. Friesland Foods (WAMCO) Nigeria Plc formerly known as West Africa Milk Company Nigeria Plc, produces Peak Milk brand and its Managing Director is Mr. Bob Steetskamp, a foreigner.
GLOBACOM
The Dr. Mike Adenuga-owned telecoms company, a wholly Nigerian company, is also known to be in the hands of non-Nigerians. Mohammed Jameel is the Group Chief Operating Officer in Nigeria and on the international scene. He joined Globacom in 2003 and was first appointed the General Manager, Sales. The choice of Jameel is strategic because of his technical know-how of telecoms operations in Africa and on the world stage and perhaps to avoid the Nigerian factor.
ETISALAT
Etisalat plunged into the Nigerian telecoms market after acquiring the unified access license in 2007. The company is duly incorporated in partnership with Mubadala and Etisalat UAE. The chief operating officer of the company is Wael Ammar and not a Nigerian.
ZAIN NIGERIA
The first mobile telecoms company in Nigeria operating since 2001, it has gone through series of acquisitions and change in brand name. Even at that, the Bharti Airtel acquired telecoms company has a foreigner as its head honcho, Mr. Deepak Srivastava.
This story was first published in Encomium Weekly on Tuesday, October 12, 2010
