Corporate News
Peter Njonjo, the Coca-Cola general manager for East Africa. PHOTO | FILE
By KIARIE NJOROGE, knjoroge@ke.nationmedia.com
In Summary
- Peter Njonjo will head regional wing that was created in a global reorganisation.
- Mr Njonjo has risen through the ranks at Coca-Cola since 2005 when he joined as the East and Central Africa business planning manager.
- He has led the firm at a time of increased competition with global rival PepsiCo making a comeback to the country in 2013 to challenge Coca-Cola’s near-monopoly it has enjoyed for decades in the Kenyan soft drinks market.
Peter Njonjo, the Coca-Cola general manager for East
Africa, has been appointed to head a new West African unit created in a
global reorganisation by the American-based multinational.
The West African unit has previously been part of the larger
Central, East and West Africa (CEWA) but has now become an autonomous
entity.
Mr Njonjo has been in his current position since January 2011.
Mr Njonjo has been in his current position since January 2011.
“The changes we are announcing today streamline our
international structure, and reflect strong talent succession and a
commitment to developing the next generation of leaders at our company,”
said James Quincey, Coca-Cola President and Chief Operating Officer.
“In Africa, two business units will be
re-configured to more closely align operations with bottling operations
on the continent, with the formation of a new South and East Africa
business unit and a West Africa business unit.” Mr Njonjo will take over
at his new post beginning August 1. The company did not indicate who
will replace him in the East African region.
He will now be reporting to Brian Smith, the head of the Europe, Middle East and Africa Group.
Mr Njonjo has risen through the ranks at Coca-Cola
since 2005 when he joined as the East and Central Africa business
planning manager.
He has led the firm at a time of increased
competition with global rival PepsiCo making a comeback to the country
in 2013 to challenge Coca-Cola’s near-monopoly it has enjoyed for
decades in the Kenyan soft drinks market.
Bidco Africa is also building a Sh4 billion
beverage plant in Thika whose planned commissioning mid next year is set
to pile pressure on Coca-Cola.
Official data indicates that soft drinks production
stood at 496 million litres last year a growth of 8.4 per cent over 457
million litres in 2014. The data released by the Kenya National Bureau
of Statistics does not give a breakdown of the producers.
Mr Njonjo holds an MBA in Strategic Management from
the United States International University (Usiu). He was voted among
the top 100 Young Leaders in Africa by Forbes Afrique (September 2014)
and Top 40-under-40 for three years in a row by the Business Daily newspaper.
The 41-year old he has held multiple positions in his 18 years at Coca-Cola.
He had a 10-month break from the beverage maker in
late 2014 when he worked with Good African Coffee Company in Uganda
before he went back to Coca-Cola.
He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in International
Business from Usiu and is a Certified Public Accountant from Strathmore
University.
During his tenure as GM East Africa, he was
involved in the consolidation of three Coca-Cola bottling franchises to
form Almasi Beverages
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