Mr. Seni Adetu, the immediate past Managing Director and CEO of the beverage giant, Guinness Nigeria Plc hit the age of 52 penultimate week, precisely on the 10th of April. The dynamic and well-spoken Adetu is a corporate icon of immense status having had a distinguished 30 years non-stop working experience with multinational (FMCG) companies at home and abroad.
Adetu began his career with John Holt Plc in 1986 as Brand Manager, Cosmetics in the Haco Division; and joined Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited as Field Marketing Manager in 1992. While in the company, Adetu held various positions of increasing responsibilities in Sales, Marketing and General Management in several countries including Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya. In 1998, he became the first Nigerian and first African appointed Marketing Director for the Coca-Cola Company in Nigeria; and subsequently had his first General Management experience in 2001; having been assigned responsibilities for all of English West Africa (excluding Nigeria), based in Accra, Ghana.
Adetu joined Diageo (the parent company of Guinness) in August 2006 and after a short stint in the UK office, became the first ever African Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and Vice Chairman of Guinness Ghana Breweries Ltd, based in Accra, Ghana.
In July 2009, Adetu was appointed Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of East African Breweries Ltd (EABL), another Diageo subsidiary, and the biggest company in East Africa by Market Capitalisation during that period. At EABL, Adetu and his team performed exceptionally well with the result in 2012, Adetu was awarded Runner-up Forbes Business Leader/CEO of the Year in East Africa. He subsequently returned to Nigeria to lead Guinness Nigeria Plc – as its first Nigerian Managing Director/CEO in nearly two decades; while doubling as Executive Chairman of Diageo Brands Nigeria, the Spirits division of the Diageo business in Nigeria.
The ever radiant Adetu, who is a prince from Sagamu, Ogun State had his primary education at Christ Church Cathedral School, Marina, Lagos, before proceeding to Federal Government College, Ijanikin, Lagos as a pioneer student of the school in 1975. Adetu holds a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering and an M.BA (with specialisation in Marketing); both from the University of Lagos. Adetu is widely travelled, having attended several leadership development programmes within and outside Africa including USA, UK, Hungary and Ireland, to mention but a few. A Motivational Speaker and Leadership Administrator, Adetu is a member of several social clubs including the Metropolitan Club, the Lagos Country Club, and the Sagamites Club; and he is married with kids.