NAIROBI, Kenya, June 30 – British beverage maker Diageo has appointed John Musunga as its Managing Director (MD) for Africa, effective July 1, as the company prepares to sell its majority stake in East African Breweries Plc (EABL).
Musunga, who most recently served as MD for Diageo’s South, West and Central Africa business, will oversee operations across the continent from Nairobi after relocating from London.
His appointment coincides with the firm’s efforts to sell its 65 percent stake in EABL to Japan’s Asahi Group Holdings, in a deal valued at approximately Sh300 billion.
Musunga joined Diageo in 2021 as MD of Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), where he led the business through its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
He later took charge of Diageo’s South, West and Central Africa operations, overseeing business across more than 30 markets.
Before joining Diageo, Musunga held senior leadership roles at GSK across Africa, Europe and Asia, where he managed commercial operations and worked with international health organisations on public health programmes.
In his new role, Musunga will lead Diageo’s African business strategy, with a focus on expanding growth, strengthening customer relationships and driving innovation across the company’s markets.
His relocation to Nairobi also reinforces Kenya’s role as one of Diageo’s key regional hubs, even as the company reviews its long-term ownership of EABL.
The planned sale of Diageo’s stake in EABL would mark one of the largest transactions in Kenya’s capital markets if completed.
