Business Growth in a Volatile Economy: The Myth Vs The Facts – Panelist Discussion

Mr. Chris Wulff-Caesar is the Marketing Director for FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria PLC. He joined the management team in April 2018 and holds a BA (Honors) Degree in Economics from the University of Ghana and an MBA from the Edinburgh Business School of the Heriot Watt University in Scotland, United Kingdom.

He is a proven marketer, commercial operator and business leader with over 20 years working experience in both local and international roles for ABInBev, SABMiller and Unilever. His career has seen him accrue a wealth of experience in managing the primary assets of these leading FMCG organizations
i.e. brands and people.

Prior to his appointment to FrieslandCampina WAMCO, Chris was Marketing Director West Africa (Ghana & Nigeria) at ABInBev and member of the board of Accra Brewery Ltd in Ghana. During his tenure, he led the establishment of a formidable brand portfolio which transformed the markets to wrestle share away from incumbent competitors. Whilst at SABMiller, he also held the positions of Category Expansion/Innovation Manager for Africa based in Johannesburg (2010 -2012) and Marketing Director
for Ghana (2007 – 2010).

Chris is an Associate member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON). He is also involved with a few organizations which target the development and establishment of infrastructure for primary education in his home country and is a member of the Changing Lives Endowment Fund (CLEF) which is a non-profit organization set up to influence access to quality education for disadvantaged students.

Emmanuel Agu has over 18 years’ experience across Consulting, Banking and FMCGs (Diageo, Heineken and Jotna Group). A well rounded Business and Commercial Leader with strong track record in business strategy, brand communication/experiential strategy, portfolio commercialization, insight generation that has delivered strong ROI on cutting-edge innovations, and high performing team leadership. Skilled in regional/national communication and local insight generation that delivers strong brand growth. Vast experience in cause marketing. Very knowledgeable about the Nigerian/African consumer space, their habits and attitudes towards brands.

Agu has successfully steered and managed over 20 brands in the Nigerian marketing landscape in the last two decades.

Strong Marketing Communication professional with an MBA in Marketing Management and  MSc in Media and Marketing Communication from Lagos State University and Pan Atlantic University Lekki respectively. A certified Management Consultant (CMC) and a member of the body  of fellows of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (FNIMN), Institute of Professional Managers & Administrators (FIPMA) and Institute of Management Consultants (FIMC).

John is CEO of the Association of Australian National Advertisers (AANA), the peak industry body representing Australia’s advertisers and has been in the role since September 2017. Prior to the AANA John had a 25 year marketing career in FMCG, working in several  categories including food, confectionery, household cleaners and personal care,  with a number of global companies including Unilever, Kellogg, Nestle and Reckitt Benckiser.  His most recent role was CMO at Unilever ANZ.

Originally from Yorkshire, England, John has lived and worked in several countries, including the US, Canada and the Middle East. He lives in Sydney along with his wife, Jacquie and two daughters, Leah & Anna.

Aggrey leads the commercial and client consulting functions as Chief Growth Officer for WECA. In his previous role as head of the Kantar insight business in Nigeria, he drove the integration of the various Kantar companies into one functional business unit.  Prior to that role he was CEO for TNS East Africa. This was after he spent over three years leading TNS Connect, the then digital and technology practice of TNS Global, across Africa, Mediterranean and Middle East.

He has led consulting projects across a diverse range of business sectors, and areas of expertise in Nigeria and across West, East, Central and Southern Africa.

Aggrey began his marketing career with Delta Beverages, the leading brewery in Zimbabwe, before crossing over to Probe Market Research, where he rapidly rose through the ranks to join the leadership team of the business. He then moved to West Africa as head of the quantitative division for RMS Nigeria where he led the reorganisation of the research practice, prior to his promotion to head research and client servicing in Nigeria.

Aggrey has led the TNS RMS Ghana and Nigeria business operating companies, and was the COO of the RMS Group, spanning three continents, prior to the merger with TNS Global, when he was appointed CEO West Africa.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce Marketing, Honors degree from the National University of Science and Technology, Zimbabwe and an MBA from ZOU, Zimbabwe. A winner of several awards, Aggrey is a Fellow of the Nigerian Market Research Association (NIMRA).

Bridget is currently the Head, Marketing and Communications for Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC. She is a multifaceted marketing professional with more than 23 years of global experience in brand strategy, sponsorships, digital marketing, data analytics and all elements of communications. She has a proven track record in running internal and external corporate communications, as well as products Integrated Marketing Campaigns (IMC) across various countries and sectors including aviation, financial services and non-governmental organizations.

Before joining Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Bridget was Head, Sponsorship and Events for over 7 years (2010- 2017) at First Bank of Nigeria Ltd (now FBN Holdings Plc). She had the responsibility for institutionalising sponsorships and scope of engagement frameworks for the First Bank Group.

Bridget holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Botany from Lagos State University and a Post    Graduate degree from the University of Leicester, UK. She is a fellow of the NigeriaN Institute of Marketing (NIMN), a member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), UK, an associate member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), an associate member of the African Public Relations Association (APRA), currently the 2^nd vice president for ADVAN (Advertisers Association of Nigeria) and a member of WIMBIZ (Women in Business and Management). She has also participated in various global business and economic summits. Her achievements during her career includes winning the Standard Bank 2018 Marketing Mark of Excellence award and receiving the highest ratings for creativity, innovation and dedication for functional responsibilities at British Airways Plc and the best of British Airways community volunteering award. She effectively managed the British Airways Plc brand, corporate image and reputation in Nigeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, Mauritius, and Uganda between 1998 and 2008.