Coca-Cola Appoints Alfred Olajide as MD of its Nigerian Operations

Coca-Cola has appointed Alfred Olajide as the new Vice President and Managing Director for the company’s Nigeria operations.

The appointment is part of the ongoing global rejigging of Coca-Cola’s leadership structure, which is aimed at repositioning the American multinational beverage corporation amid the fast-changing global business environment.

Olajide, who had served in different capacities in the company for nine years, would take over from the outgoing MD, Yebeltal Getachew who tenure expired n December 31, 2020.

According to Coca-Cola’s chairman and CEO, James Quincey, the operational restructuring will shift marketing to drive more growth and “put execution closer to customers and consumers while prioritizing a portfolio of strong brands”.

Speaking on his appointment, Olajide said, “These are very exciting times for the global Coca-Cola business, and I look forward to contributing my own quota to a business I love so much, especially at such an interesting time as this. Nigeria is a huge market, and I am optimistic about the growth we can achieve together with our bottling partners.”

The company said Olajide’s wealth of experience in market growth, strategy, and operations management will help drive strategy formulation, and market execution in the Coca-Cola Nigeria franchise operations.

Olajide was the Franchise Director for cluster markers in the Southern and Eastern African region; director of revenue growth management in the East and Central African region; and strategy head for Nigeria franchise.

He holds a first-class bachelor’s degree from the University of Ibadan and a master of business administration (MBA) from the University of Leicester, UK.

The company said Olajide’s experience in leading market growth, strategy, and operations management built from years in management consulting and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), will undoubtedly help drive business growth, strategy formulation, and market execution, in the Coca-Cola Nigeria franchise operations.