Tobi Adeniyi has been named the Managing Director by Unilever Nigeria Plc, with effect from January 1, 2025.
Alongside Tim Kleinebenne, the current Managing Director, he will go through a gradual transition and handover process until the end of 2024. Since joining Unilever as a Future Leader in 2009, he has accumulated extensive knowledge in both strategic and operational aspects of the supply chain as well as commercial operations. With assignments that have taken him to a variety of markets, including Singapore, the Philippines, and Indonesia, he has experience in logistics, planning, strategic supply chain, procurement, and sales.
Most recently, Adeniyi has played a key role in advancing Unilever Nigeria’s sales transformation goal, implementing strategic initiatives across the country to produce significant outcomes. He is a member of the Institute of Directors (IOD) and now serves as Vice Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Export Promotion Group (MANEG).
Unilever Nigeria Plc Chairman, Bolaji Balogun had this to say: “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. Adeniyi’s extensive experience and exceptional leadership skills make him an outstanding choice at this time, to lead us into a bright and even more successful future.”
Continuing, the Board is confident that Unilever Nigeria Plc will continue to flourish and reach greater heights under Tobi’s leadership, he said. Additionally, Balogun conveyed his gratitude to Tim Kleinebenne, the departing Managing Director, for his guidance and contributions to the expansion and prosperity of Unilever Nigeria.
Ben Langat, Executive Vice President of Unilever East and West Africa, announced the appointment, saying: “I am pleased that we are implementing this transition which is in line with our robust succession planning initiative at Unilever. 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.”
BrandSpur brand news reports that Tim Kleinebenne, the Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria until his retirement, was also thanked by Langat. Tim became the Managing Director of several Unilever companies worldwide, such as Unilever Caribbean, Ethiopia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, after joining the company in Germany 33 years ago.
He added: “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 to the successful transformation he initiated. We wish him great success for the future as he shapes his next adventure beyond work.”
