Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL)—a subsidiary of East African Breweries Limited (EABL), itself owned by Diageo plc, the global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding portfolio of spirits and beer brands—has appointed Felicite Nson, a Cameroonian acclaimed business leader, as its next Managing Director, exclusive sources can reveal.
The leadership change at UBL comes at a transformative moment not only for Uganda’s beer and spirits market but also for Diageo’s operations in Africa. It follows a broader strategic reshuffle at EABL that will see the outgoing UBL MD, Andrew Kilonzo, take over the reins at Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), East Africa’s largest brewing subsidiary.
Kilonzo replaces Mark Ocitti, who has led Kenya Breweries since 2021. Ocitti is exiting the Diageo Group after a successful 11-year tenure, having served in senior roles including Managing Director of Uganda Breweries before moving to KBL. He is reportedly pursuing new leadership opportunities outside the group, marking the end of a notable Diageo chapter defined by transformational leadership across multiple markets.
So, who is Felicite Nson, and why is her appointment drawing such attention?
A Pan-African Executive with an Award-Winning Track Record
Felicite Nson was appointed Managing Director of Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC in October 2023, becoming one of the few women to lead a Diageo-listed business in Africa. Her appointment marked a strategic move by Diageo to drive performance and transformation in a key West African market. Within her first year, she led the company to become Diageo’s fastest-growing African market, delivering expanded shareholder value, margin growth, and a revitalized workplace culture that boosted employee retention.
In recognition of her impact, Nson was named CEO of the Year and Female Executive of the Year at the Ghana Executive Awards 2024.
She joined Diageo in December 2014 as Marketing Director for Guinness Cameroon, and over the next decade, held multiple senior roles, including:
- Marketing Director, Guinness Cameroon & West and Central Africa (2014–2017)
- Commercial Director, Meta Abo Brewery, Ethiopia (Aug 2017 – Dec 2018)
- Sales & Marketing Director, Guinness Cameroon (Jan 2019 – Oct 2023)
Her career before Diageo was equally distinguished. At The Coca-Cola Company, where she worked for over nine years (2001–2010), she served in several senior regional roles:
- Advertising Manager, West Africa Region (Aug 2001 – Sep 2002)
- Central Africa Cluster Marketing Manager (Oct 2002 – Mar 2005)
- Senior Portfolio Manager, Francophone West Africa (Apr 2005 – Jul 2007)
- Senior Portfolio Manager, Mid Africa Region (Aug 2007 – Dec 2009)
- Marketing Director, Horn, Islands & Mid-Africa Region (Dec 2009 – Nov 2010)
- Marketing Director, West Africa Region (Jun 2013 – Oct 2014)
Between December 2010 and May 2013, she played a pivotal role at MTN Cameroon as Head of Consumer Marketing. There, she led innovative, youth-focused campaigns that strengthened MTN’s brand equity, while also reorganizing the marketing department, driving staff motivation, and improving productivity.
Her career began in advertising at McCann Erickson Cameroon, where she spent over a decade (1990–2001), steadily rising from:
dfcu Bank Partners with Jubilee Health to Launch BlueCare Health Insurance Solution- Account Director (1990–1995)
- Group Account Director (1995–1999)
- Commercial Director (1999–2001)
At McCann, she led major regional accounts including Coca-Cola West Africa, British American Tobacco, Orange, Unilever, and Nestlé, developing award-winning consumer advertising campaigns that delivered strong brand engagement and preference—especially among younger demographics.
Felicite Nson defines herself as a transformational and energetic leader, passionate about building and winning with high-performing teams across Africa. “I am at my best,” she writes, “when I inspire people to become the highest version of themselves and achieve things they never thought possible.”
Nson’s appointment at UBL comes at a critical juncture. Her predecessor, Andrew Kilonzo, who is moving to head KBL in Nairobi, had led Uganda Breweries through a phase of strong performance and portfolio expansion. His nearly three-year tenure focused on innovation, trade engagement, and consolidating UBL’s leadership in premium and value beer categories.
Felicite is expected to carry forward this momentum—but with her signature touch: inclusive leadership, a keen eye for brand and customer engagement, and commercial agility honed across multiple African markets.
Her appointment also sends a strong signal about Diageo’s commitment to diverse leadership and the acceleration of female executives in top-tier roles within Africa’s corporate landscape.
Her departure from Guinness Ghana also coincides with Diageo’s recent decision to divest its 80.4% stake in Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC to the Castel Group for USD 81 million—a move that signals Diageo’s strategic shift in West Africa. With Diageo stepping back from Ghana’s beer market, speculation is rife that the company is doubling down on East Africa and spirits markets, where performance and brand dominance remain robust.
In this context, Nson’s move from Ghana to Uganda is not just a promotion—but a strategic redeployment to a market Diageo sees as a growth engine.
A New Chapter for UBL, A Bigger Stage for Felicite
Felicite holds a degree in International Marketing from the University of Hartford in the U.S. She has also completed extensive executive education at INSEAD, one of the world’s top business schools, including: Driving Digital Marketing Strategy, Strategy in the Age of Digital Disruption and Transition to General Management.
As Felicite Nson prepares to take on the role of Managing Director at Uganda Breweries, she brings with her a potent mix of strategic vision, deep African experience, and a passion for building high-performance cultures. Her track record suggests she is more than capable of sustaining UBL’s growth trajectory—and perhaps taking it even further.
