International Breweries appoints Nicholas Kade as Managing Director as Carlos Coutino exits
AB InBev’s Nigerian unit names Nicholas Kade Managing Director following Carlos Coutino’s transition to a new leadership role.
NIGERIA – International Breweries Plc (IBPLC), a subsidiary of Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev), has announced the appointment of Nicholas Kade as its new Managing Director, effective March 1, 2026.
The company said Kade will succeed Carlos Coutino, who is moving to another senior role within the AB InBev group. In a statement, IBPLC said Coutino, who has served as Managing Director and Business Unit President since January 2023, will take up the role of Managing Director for Honduras and El Salvador.
“Carlos Coutino, who has served as Managing Director and Business Unit President since January 2023, will assume the role of Managing Director for Honduras and El Salvador within the AB InBev group,” the company said.
Coutino joined IBPLC in 2018 as National Sales and Trade Marketing Director and rose through the commercial ranks.
During his tenure, the brewer said it achieved its highest-ever sales volume and market share and returned to profitability after six years of restructuring. The company also recorded its highest employee engagement score in Nigeria under his leadership.
Beyond financial and commercial performance, Coutino also led the transformation of AB InBev’s digital operations in Nigeria, championing a locally developed digital product that has since been rolled out across six countries.
Kade, who previously served as IBPLC’s Sales Director, brings more than 15 years of commercial leadership experience across Africa. He has led national sales strategy, commercial execution and performance delivery in Nigeria and joined AB InBev through its competitive graduate management trainee programme.
The brewer said Kade has also held multiple commercial director roles in South Africa, where he oversaw sales strategy, revenue growth management, route-to-market execution and leadership of large teams across regions.
His background includes customer experience transformation, business enablement implementation and delivery of sustainable commercial results.
IBPLC, part of AB InBev’s global portfolio of more than 500 brands, including Trophy Lager, Hero Lager, Castle Lite and Budweiser, said the appointment reflects its focus on driving growth and strengthening leadership.
The company recently posted a strong turnaround in its financial performance. For the nine months ended September 30, 2025, IBPLC recorded a profit after tax of N57.83 billion, compared with losses in prior years, marking its first return to profitability in seven years.
Revenue rose by 38% to N472.57 billion (US$332.84M) from N343.45 billion (US$241.9M) in the same period last year, supported by higher sales volumes and improved pricing across its beer and beverage categories.
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