Diageo top executives call on Asantehene

(L-R) Gabriel Opoku-Asare, Simon Harvey, Nick Blazquez, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, John O Keffe, Francis

The senior executives of Diageo PLC, global leader in beverage alcohol and parent company of Gunnies Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), led by Nick Blazquez, President of Diageo Africa and Asia Pacific Regions, have paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace.

The delegation was made up of John OKeeffe, President of Diageo Africa, Simon Harvey, Managing Director of Diageo Africa Regional Markets, Francis Agbonlahor Managing Director of GGBL, Stephen Nirenstein Finance Director of GGBL and Gabriel Opoku-Asare, Corporate Relations Director of GGBL.

The visit to Manhyia was to pay homage to the Asantehene as he observed Awukudae festival, to officially inform him of the departure of Nick Blazquez from Diageo PLC, who is set to leave the company after 27 years of dedicated service and to introduce Mr. Francis Agbonlahor the new Managing Director of GGBL.

The delegation presented a portfolio of Diageo’s premium brands - Johnnie Walker, Cîroc, Gordon’s Gin, Guinness Africa Special, Orijin Bitters and Ruut Extra Premium Beer (Ghana's first Cassava beer) to support the Awukudae Festival.

In his remarks to Otumfuo, Nick Blazquez expressed gratitude to Otumfuo for been a great friend and advisor to GGBL. “We remain committed to Ghana; we are here for the long haul. We will continue to invest significantly in our operations, communities and our people,” he added.

Touching on GGBL local raw material programme, he revealed that all locally produced GGBL brands now incorporate an element of raw material grown within Ghana, including the recently launched Guinness Africa Special. The programme has directly improved the livelihoods of over 7,000 small and medium scale farmers.

Speaking to Otumfuo after the introduction, Francis Agbonlahor thanked Otumfuo for the warm reception accorded the team during the visit and promised to provide regular business updates to the king.

His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II mentioned that he will continue to support the company both locally and internationally and thanked the team for the visit.