Nigerian human resources executive Gbemisola Atimomo has been appointed Director of People and Organization for Novo Nordisk’s Middle East and Central Asia (BAMECA) Business Area, taking on a regional leadership role after a decade with the global pharmaceutical company. The appointment expands her responsibilities from Africa to a wider group of diverse markets across the Middle East and Central Asia.
Atimomo joins the new role with extensive experience in people strategy, organisational development and leadership. Before her latest appointment, she served as People and Organization Director for Novo Nordisk’s Business Area Africa, where she was involved in shaping people-related strategies across the region. Her career at the company has spanned about 10 years, giving her experience working across complex organisational and market environments.
She previously served as Head of People, Organization and Communications for Middle Africa, a position in which she was responsible for talent and communications strategies covering 49 sub-Saharan African countries. According to information shared by Leading Ladies Africa, the role formed part of a broader career focused on connecting workforce development with business priorities.
Atimomo’s career at Novo Nordisk followed more than eight years with Diageo/Guinness Nigeria, where she gained experience spanning human resources and business operations. Her professional background has consequently combined people management with commercial and organisational responsibilities, experience she now brings to a regional role covering markets outside Africa.
The executive also holds an International MBA and has developed a profile as a leadership coach and corporate speaker. Her public work has focused on leadership development and the creation of workplaces where employees can contribute authentically while having opportunities to develop professionally.
A recurring theme in Atimomo’s leadership philosophy is the idea of helping people become “More”. She has advocated for workplaces where employees can be themselves, experience psychological safety and grow while contributing to broader organisational objectives. She has also emphasised the need for human resources leaders to understand the businesses they support, including their purpose, strategy and priorities.
Her appointment comes as she takes the experience gained from leading people strategies across African markets into a broader regional assignment. The BAMECA Business Area brings together operations spanning the Middle East and Central Asia, giving her responsibility for people and organisational priorities across a geographically diverse business environment.
The new position adds another significant chapter to Atimomo’s career in corporate leadership and places her experience in people and organisation management within a broader international setting. Her move also reflects the growing presence of African professionals in senior leadership roles across multinational organisations, particularly in functions that connect talent, organisational culture and business strategy.
