Guinness Nigeria has named Ramanathan “Ram” Solayappan as its new Marketing & Innovations Director, succeeding Yinka Bakare, who stepped down as Marketing Director on January 31, 2026, to explore opportunities outside the company. The announcement was made through an internal communication from Girish Sharma, Managing Director of Guinness Nigeria, and exclusively obtained by this publication.
In the letter to staff, Sharma commended Bakare for strengthening the company’s marketing foundations and guiding the team through pivotal milestones. He also expressed confidence that Solayappan would accelerate Guinness Nigeria’s growth agenda under the company’s Building for More Vision 2026 roadmap.
Brandspur Brand News Desk reports that Solayappan brings over 15 years of experience in Sales and Marketing across Nigeria and India. His expertise spans brand management, route-to-market strategy, business intelligence, and digital transformation within the FMCG sector.
Solayappan joined the Tolaram Group in 2015 after completing his MBA, holding progressive roles across V Connect, Multipro, and Dufil. He contributed significantly to SME solutions, distribution optimisation, and the enterprise-wide rollout of Power BI. Transitioning fully into Marketing, he led digitalisation initiatives and most recently managed Marketing for Indomie Instant Noodles, Nigeria’s largest noodles brand.
In his new expanded role, Solayappan will oversee marketing strategy, strengthen the brand portfolio, and drive innovation to unlock new growth opportunities. The upgraded title, Marketing & Innovations Director, formally embeds innovation into the role, aligning with Diageo’s global focus on portfolio diversification and emerging market growth.
The appointment reflects Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to reinforcing leadership capacity and ensuring the brand remains competitive in the dynamic Nigerian FMCG landscape.
