EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

Nesibu Temesgen makes history as Unilever Ethiopia’s first local GM

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2025

Temesgen, a nine-year veteran of the company, succeeds George Owusu-Ansah, a Ghanaian, who has retired.

Unilever Ethiopia has announced the appointment of Nesibu Temesgen as General Manager, effective from 1 April 2025. He becomes the first Ethiopian to lead the business.

Nesibu Temesgen. Photo: Unilever Ethiopia

Temesgen succeeds George Owusu-Ansah, a Ghanaian national, who has retired but remains on the board of Unilever Ghana. 

 

Previously in the role of CD Director for Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia, Temesgen has been with Unilever Ethiopia for nine years. Previous roles within the company include Senior Sales Manager – Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia, and National Sales Manager. 

 

He has also been Trade Marketing Manager for Heineken in Ethiopia and National Sales Manager for Tiger Brands in the country. Prior to that, he worked in the academic world and holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in marketing management from Addis Ababa University. 

 

Unilever employs around 7,000 people in Ethiopia 

 

Unilever began operating in Ethiopia in 2014 and produces brands such as Lifebuoy, Omo, Knorr, Sunlight and Signal. According to the news publication Addis Fortune, Unilever employs around 7,000 people in the country. 

 

The publication reports that Temesgen plans to diversify the company’s offerings and adapt existing products to evolving market demands.  

 

He aims to focus on expanding distribution channels and introducing new product lines. Unilever Ethiopia will import select products from Unilever’s global sourcing units, with plans to explore local production later. 

 

Comments Ethiopian Business Review: “Now, the challenge for Ethiopia’s first Unilever GM will be to navigate inflationary pressures, shifting consumer preferences, and rising competition while driving innovation in household brands like Sunlight, Omo and Blue Band.” 

 

In February 2025, Coca-Cola Beverages Africa made local headlines when it appointed Melkamu Abebe as its new Managing Director in Ethiopia. He became the first Ethiopian to take up the position.

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    Dr Kin Kariisa

    Group CEO - Next Media

    Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
    With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
    Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

    Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

    Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

    • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
    • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
    • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
    • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
    • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.