EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

Tobi Adeniyi appointed as Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2024

Adeniyi has been with Unilever since 2009 and has served in various markets including Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Unilever Nigeria Plc has appointed Tobi Adeniyi as its Managing Director designate. He will take up his new role on 1 January 2025.

In the interim, there will be a handover and phased transition process alongside the current Managing Director, Tim Kleinebenne, who is retiring.

Adeniyi began his career as a Unilever Future Leader in 2009 and has amassed a wealth of experience across multiple facets of supply chain (strategic and operational) and commercial operations. His assignments with Unilever have taken him to various markets including Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia.

Most recently, he has been involved in driving Unilever Nigeria’s sales transformation agenda. He serves as the current Vice Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group (MANEG) and is a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD).

Tobi Adeniyi. Photo: Unilever

“On behalf of the Board of Directors and everyone at Unilever Nigeria, I am delighted to congratulate Tobi Adeniyi on his appointment as Managing Director Designate,” says Bolaji Balogun, Chairman of Unilever Nigeria Plc.

“Adeniyi’s extensive experience and exceptional leadership skills make him an outstanding choice … to lead us into a bright and even more successful future.”

Robust succession planning strategy

Ben Langat, Executive Vice President for Unilever East and West Africa, adds that the transition which is in line with Unilever’s robust succession planning initiative.

“Tobi has a deep connection and understanding of the Nigerian market terrain, and coupled with his extensive background, his experience will be valuable towards the journey ahead for the business,” Langat states.

Langat also thanked Kleinebenne, who retires from Unliever after joining in Germany 33 years ago. He has served as Managing Director for diverse Unilever businesses around the globe – including Unilever Caribbean, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire and Nigeria.

“Please join me in congratulating Tim on a wonderful career with Unilever and in thanking him for all that he has done for our people and the company. The published results are a clear testament of the successful transformation he initiated. We wish him great success for the future as he shapes his next adventure beyond work,” Langat said.

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