Champion Breweries appoints Malolan Sampath as CEO
Champion Breweries has named industry veteran Malolan Sampath as CEO from September, while appointing Rasheed Adebiyi as interim managing director to ensure leadership continuity.
NIGERIA – Champion Breweries Plc has appointed Malolan Sampath as its new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, with the appointment set to take effect on 1 September 2026 as the Nigerian brewer undertakes a leadership transition aimed at supporting its long-term growth strategy.
The appointment was disclosed in a regulatory filing signed by the company’s Chairman, Imo-Abasi Jacob, following the resignation of Inalegwu Adoga as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer.
“The Board has approved the appointment of Mr. Malolan Sampath as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 September 2026,” the company stated in the filing.
Champion Breweries said the board is confident that Sampath’s extensive experience in manufacturing excellence, commercial execution and business transformation will contribute to the company’s strategic objectives and future expansion plans.
To ensure continuity during the transition period before Sampath assumes office, the board has appointed Rasheed Adebiyi, the company’s Executive Director of Finance, as Acting Managing Director.
“The board remains committed to the highest standards of corporate governance and to delivering a seamless leadership transition and sustainable value to shareholders and other stakeholders,” Champion Breweries said.
Sampath brings more than 26 years of international leadership experience across the beverage, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), manufacturing and agro-industrial sectors. Throughout his career, he has built and managed businesses with revenues of up to US$500 million.
His experience in the beverage industry includes serving as Managing Director of Unique Beverages in Angola and Sales and Marketing Director for a PepsiCo bottling franchise. He also gained earlier experience within the brewing sector, strengthening his credentials for the new role.
Most recently, Sampath served as Managing Director of the NPK Joint Venture and Chief Marketing Officer at Indorama Eleme Fertilizers in Nigeria. Prior to that, he was Chief Executive Officer of Global Industries Limited, a joint venture of Wilmar International in Zambia.
Sampath holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (MBA) from the Symbiosis Centre for Management & HRD in Pune, India, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Chennai.
The leadership change comes as Champion Breweries reports strong financial performance. For the 2025 financial year, the company posted a profit after tax of N1.79 billion, representing a 119% increase compared to the previous year.
Revenue rose 43% to N29.80 billion, supported by what the chairman described as a margin-led growth strategy and improved operational efficiency.
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