In a significant leadership transition, Cadbury Nigeria PLC has named Ayman Hussein F. Gaafar as its incoming Managing Director, tasking the seasoned consumer goods executive with steering the confectionery giant’s next growth phase. The appointment, approved by the company’s board following a formal recommendation from its Governance and Risk Committee, takes effect on May 15, 2026.
Gaafar succeeds Folake Ogundipe, who has served as Interim Managing Director since December 2025. Ogundipe played a critical role in stabilizing operations during the transitional period, ensuring business continuity ahead of the new MD’s arrival.
Brandspur Brand News Desk confirms that Gaafar joins Cadbury Nigeria with a career footprint across several of the world’s most formidable fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, including Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, Danone, and Shan Foods. His cross-regional expertise spans general management, commercial leadership, and market strategy, with direct accountability for full profit-and-loss performance, go-to-market execution, and business expansion across diverse geographies such as the Middle East, Africa, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Canada, and the Levant region.
Industry observers note that Gaafar’s deep experience in emerging and mature markets positions him to drive strategic realignment and brand portfolio optimization for Cadbury Nigeria. His appointment signals the company’s focus on strengthening regional footprints while navigating cost and currency pressures that have affected Nigeria’s consumer goods sector.
The board expressed confidence that Gaafar’s leadership will accelerate value creation for stakeholders, building on Cadbury Nigeria’s legacy as a dominant player in the country’s food and beverage industry. Further operational and strategic details are expected closer to his assumption date.
