Nigerian Breweries Plc, the country’s leading brewing company, has announced the appointment of Dr. Uzodinma Odenigbo as its new Corporate Affairs Director, effective May 1, 2025. This appointment follows the elevation of Sade Morgan, the former Corporate Affairs Director, to a global position as Heineken’s Corporate Affairs Director for Africa, the Middle East, and Africa (AMEA) region.
The announcement was made by the company’s Managing Director, Hans Essaadi, highlighting the strategic nature of the appointment and the continued commitment of Nigerian Breweries to excellence in stakeholder engagement and corporate communications.
Odenigbo joined Nigerian Breweries in 2017 and has since played a key role in shaping the company’s Public, External, and Government Affairs functions. He began his journey as Public Affairs Manager for Southern Nigeria and later took on broader responsibilities, leading the company’s public affairs efforts across the country. He also provided strategic direction to Regional Corporate Affairs Managers and helped drive national advocacy campaigns.
Among his notable achievements, Odenigbo played a critical role in developing and executing a comprehensive stakeholder engagement and communications framework. This formed part of Nigerian Breweries’ 2024 business recovery plan, ensuring zero business disruptions and avoiding negative media coverage during a sensitive transition period.
As part of his leadership development, Odenigbo was selected for a Short-Term Assignment (STA) in July 2024 as Corporate Affairs Director at Brarudi, Heineken’s subsidiary in Burundi. During his time there, which lasted until March 2025, he joined the local Management Team and led the Corporate Affairs agenda. His efforts included launching a sustainability-focused reputation campaign, enhancing internal communications, and driving measurable improvements in employee climate scores. He also championed the Optimal Business Climate agenda with tangible progress in areas such as exports, local sourcing, and regional tax advocacy within the East African Community (EAC).
While in Burundi, he strengthened the capabilities of the Corporate Affairs team and implemented the 2025 Corporate Affairs playbook, setting the foundation for continued success beyond his tenure.
Uzo Odenigbo holds both an MBA and a PhD in Mass Communications. He is passionate about building emotional connections through communication, exploring new professional frontiers, and maintaining an active lifestyle.