Nigeria is an exceptional and exciting consumer environment – Diageo CEO

From Left, Chief Executive Officer, Diageo Plc, Ivan Menezes, Managing Director and Chief Executive, United Bank for Africa (UBA Plc); Philip Odozua, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Seni Adetu, and Chief Executive Officer Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Oscar Onyema, at the Dinner in Honour of Ivan Menezes at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos on Wednesday, 3rd September 2014.

Global business leader and Chief Executive Officer of Diageo Plc, Ivan Menezes, has described the Nigerian market as an exceptional and exciting consumer environment which represents a huge opportunity for the world’s leading premium drinks business and other consumer goods companies.

From Left, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Seni Adetu, Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc; Hajia Zainab Abdurrahman, Chief Executive Officer, Diageo Plc, Ivan Menezes and Chief Executive Officer Vigeo Holdings, Gbolade Osibodu

He said this at a dinner in his honour in Lagos, while addressing the leading lights of corporate Nigeria including Oscar Onyema, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Ben Langat, CEO, Nigerian Bottling Company, Bola Adesola, CEO, Standard Chartered Bank, Peter Amangbo, CEO, Zenith Bank, Philip Odozua, CEO, UBA, Atedo Peterside, Chairman, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Gbolade Osibodu, CEO, Vigeo Holdings and Segun Ogunsanya, CEO, Airtel Nigeria, among others. The dinner was organised by Guinness Nigeria Plc

Ivan noted that Diageo is extremely confident of the opportunities in the Nigerian market hence its investment of about $500 million USD in Guinness Nigeria Plc, an integral part of its business, in the last six years. Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine categories.


“We are extremely confident in the opportunity here, and it is a market you cannot ignore. There are a few challenges in the market right now but we are optimistic about the opportunity and the future we will create here. The fundamentals of the Nigerian economy are very robust, same for the energy of the people. We have been out on the streets of Lagos, visiting top-end bars and trade partners to have a feel of the consumer, and can boldly say that we love the energy, optimism and vibrancy of Nigerians. We are not surprised that some of the hottest trends in music and fashion are coming out of Nigeria. This market represents an exceptional and extremely exciting consumer environment”, he said. 

The Diageo Chief added that he is most proud of Guinness Nigeria because of its reputation for doing good business. He disclosed that around the world, people ask him about the Diageo experience as a business in the Nigerian market without recording breach of its compliance agenda. “I am most proud of Guinness Nigeria because we do business the right way, recruiting the right talent and ensuring we have a great team. We are a Nigerian company and are grateful to those who have supported us over the years. Guinness Nigeria has been here for decades and we are here for the long haul.”

On his part, Seni Adetu, Managing Director and Chief Executive, Guinness Nigeria Plc, and host of the dinner, said “We are proud and excited at Guinness Nigeria to have Ivan, the global leader of Diageo, our parent company, visit us twice in ten months. His visits and commitment to meeting and celebrating our partners and stakeholders in the banks, distributive trade and regulatory sector is a testament to Diageo’s commitment to the Nigerian market. Diageo enriches almost every aspect of Guinness Nigeria, and we appreciate the privileged status we enjoy as a favourite in a global corporation which has presence in about 180 countries where its brands of alcoholic and non-alcoholic products delight consumers everyday.”