Nigerian Breweries Names Nkechi Runsewe HR Director

Nigerian Breweries Plc, Nigeria’s leading brewing company, has announced that Nkechi Runsewe will become the new Human Resources Director, effective August 1, 2026. Mrs. Runsewe comes to the role from the company’s parent, HEINEKEN, and will replace Grace Omo‑Lamai, who will retire on July 28, 2026 after nearly ten years of distinguished service and impactful leadership.

In her new capacity, Mrs. Runsewe will be central to translating the company’s EverGreen 2030 strategy into action by shaping organisational design, leadership behaviours, workforce capabilities and performance systems. Her focus will be on sustaining volume growth, maintaining cost discipline, and delivering repeatable performance.

Managing Director Thibaut Boidin welcomed the appointment, stating: “We are delighted to welcome Nkechi Runsewe to the Nigerian Breweries Management Team at a pivotal moment for our business. Nkechi brings deep expertise in talent management and a strong track record of driving high‑performance cultures across geographies. Her leadership will be critical as we continue to build a future‑ready organisation, strengthen our people capabilities and deliver our EverGreen 2030 ambitions.”

Runsewe joins from HEINEKEN, where she served as Global Head of Talent Management. In that role she strengthened leadership pipelines, improved succession readiness and advanced performance and development frameworks across HEINEKEN operating companies.

Since joining HEINEKEN in September 2021, Nkechi Runsewe has built trusted partnerships across and beyond the People Function, strengthened global Communities of Practice and is known for her collaborative, pragmatic approach to continuous improvement. Prior to her current role, she was Regional Talent Lead for the Africa, Middle East and Eastern Europe (AMEE) Region.

Her earlier career included senior management and leadership positions at Etisalat, M‑Net Africa and Diageo, giving her experience across business consulting, media and telecommunications, financial services and consumer goods.

Speaking about the appointment, Nkechi Runsewe said: “I am honoured to join Nigerian Breweries at such an important moment in its journey. The company’s strong legacy, combined with its forward‑looking EverGreen 2030 strategy, presents a unique opportunity to build an even stronger, high‑performing organisation. I look forward to working closely with our teams to strengthen our leadership capabilities, deepen our talent pipeline, and foster a culture where our people can thrive and deliver sustainable growth for the business.”

As the Human Resources function transitions to new leadership, the company also takes the opportunity to thank Grace Omo‑Lamai, who will retire on July 28, 2026 after nearly a decade of distinguished service. Under her leadership, Nigerian Breweries earned its first Great Place To Work Silver recognition in 2021, Top Employer Certification in Nigeria and Africa in 2026, and honors from the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, the International Coaching Federation Nigeria Chapter, HR People Magazine, and the Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association.