John Musunga is the head of Diageo Africa’s newly formed South, West and Central Africa (SWC) market since January 1, 2024. He is an established business leader with a wide range of strategic, management and commercial experience spanning over 29 years.
He previously served as the inaugural CEO of Guinness Nigeria PLC and Managing Director of Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL).
Here is John Musunga’s story as narrated by eafeed.
Background & Education
John Musunga hails from a humble background. His father was arrested among the plotters of the infamous 1982 coup against then President Daniel Arap Moi’s government.
With his father gone, he had to be the man of the house. He was released three years into his 20-year jail sentence.
Musunga attended Lenana High School and later proceeded to the University of Nairobi (UoN) from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry.
He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the United States International University (USIU).
In 2022, he attended a Leading Sustainable Corporations Programme at the University of Oxford.
Career
John Musunga began joined GSK in 2000 as the Commercial Director for Kenya and East Africa until 2004. He was reassigned to South Africa as the Sales and Marketing Manager between 2004 and 2005.
He was promoted to Managing Director and General Manager for GSK in Kenya and East Africa, a role he held till in 2015 when he was reassigned to Brussels, Belgium as Head of Supranationals, Global Vaccines.
In January 2020, John Musunga was appointed Vaccines Markert Leader and served till his departure in February 2021.
Musunga joined Diageo in March 2021 as Managing Director of Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL). He was appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guinness Nigeria PLC, a Diageo subsidiary, in October 2022.
He was promoted to head of SWC based at Diageo’s headquarters in London, United Kingdom on January 1, 2024.
Diageo Africa’s President and Chief Commercial Officer, Dayalan Nayager, described Musunga as a highly regarded and successful executive leader with vast experience operating in Africa.
The SWC business market comprises two territories covering Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean and West and Central Africa, including Ghana, Cameroun, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Seychelles, among others.
“As we launch the new South, West and Central Africa market, I am delighted to announce the appointment of John Musunga, currently CEO & MD Guinness Nigeria, as inaugural Managing Director, effective 1st January 2024,” Nayager announced in a communique on November 23, 2023.
Adebayo Alli was appointed Guinness Nigeria PLC MD succeeding Musunga.
“Even as I look forward with excitement to my new role as the first managing director for Southern, West & Central Africa, I am thrilled for the business of Guinness Nigeria, which I will be leaving in the very capable hands of a strong and committed executive management team”, Musunga said.
In addition, John Musunga has served as Chairman of the Kenya HIV/AIDS Business Council, chaired the Kenya Association of Pharmaceutical Industries and served on the board of Kenya Vision 2030, among others.
