EABL CFO Risper Ohaga to exit in June 2026 after six-year tenure
EABL announces CFO Risper Ohaga’s departure in June 2026 following Diageo’s $2.3bn exit from the brewer.
KENYA – East African Breweries Limited (EABL) has announced that its Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director, Risper Ohaga, will leave the company effective June 30, 2026, marking the end of a six-year tenure in the dual role.
In a statement, EABL said Ohaga will be pursuing other career opportunities outside the brewer. She has served as both CFO and Executive Director since 2020, a period during which the company navigated significant operational and financial challenges.
The EABL board praised Ohaga for her leadership and contribution to strengthening the company’s financial position and stakeholder engagement.
During her tenure, she played a central role in optimising the brewer’s balance sheet and ensuring stable funding, particularly during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
“During her tenure, Risper has distinguished herself through strong financial leadership and decisive execution, optimising the company’s balance sheet and funding during and after the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure strategy delivery while maintaining cost discipline,” said EABL Company Secretary Angela Namwakira.
Namwakira added that Ohaga was instrumental in strengthening governance and internal controls, developing finance talent and deepening investor relations. Under her leadership, the finance function received multiple financial reporting awards, reflecting improved transparency and performance.
Beyond her corporate role, Ohaga has been widely recognised within the business community.
In 2024, she received The Women on Boards Award, the Inclusive Leader Award – East Africa, and was named CFO of the Year. She was also a finalist for the 2025 CFO of the Year Awards.
Ohaga’s planned exit comes after Diageo’s decision to sell its 65% majority stake in EABL to Japan’s Asahi Group Holdings in a transaction valued at approximately US$2.3 billion.
In December, Diageo said it was exiting the East African beer market as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its balance sheet and dispose of non-core assets.
However, the transaction is facing a legal challenge in Kenya, where a beer distributor has petitioned the High Court to suspend the deal pending the outcome of a competition dispute against EABL.
The court has postponed an earlier hearing, allowing the parties to continue preliminary steps, including regulatory approvals, provided the transaction is not finalised before January 20, when further directions are expected.
For the financial year ended June 30, 2025, EABL reported net sales of US$996 million, EBITDA of US$258 million and net profit of US$94 million, underscoring the scale of the business Ohaga helped steer during her tenure.
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