Nigerian Breweries Plc, the country’s leading brewing company, has announced the appointment of Sade Morgan as the Corporate Affairs Director for Heineken’s Africa & Middle East (AME) region.
Morgan’s new role will officially begin on May 1, 2025.
The announcement was made in a statement signed by Hans Essaadi, Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries, on Friday, April 4, 2025.
Morgan, who has served as Nigerian Breweries’ Corporate Affairs Director since 2018, is now stepping into this global position, succeeding David Paterson.
She becomes the first national from the AME region to hold such a senior leadership position.
In her new role, Morgan will join both the Heineken Global Corporate Affairs Leadership Team and the Heineken AME Management Team.
She will be responsible for continuing to drive the Corporate Affairs strategy, supporting Heineken’s growth objectives, and safeguarding the company’s reputation across the AME region.
Morgan has a proven track record in Nigerian Breweries, where she has led high-level regulatory and fiscal engagements, fostering a more favorable business climate for the company.
Notably, she played a significant role in mitigating substantial excise tax hikes and helped create a more viable regulatory framework for the business.
She also managed the temporary suspension of operations in several Nigerian breweries, ensuring continuous stakeholder engagement and business continuity during the crisis.
Her leadership has extended beyond regulatory affairs.
Morgan has been instrumental in advancing Heineken’s Brew a Better World sustainability goals in Nigeria.
In recognition of her exceptional work, she was recently named the 2025 Outstanding Corporate Spokesperson of the Year at the Nigerian National Spokespersons Awards and the Corporate Communications Professional of the Year at the 2024 Lagos Public Relations Industry Gala and Awards.
Morgan is a seasoned corporate executive with 27 years of experience across various sectors, including fast-moving consumer goods, tobacco, and beverages.
A lawyer by training, she has honed her expertise in regulatory affairs, corporate governance, and strategic communications, working with top Nigerian law firms and multinational companies.
Before joining Nigerian Breweries, Morgan held several key positions, including Legal, Public Affairs, and Communications Director at Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company.
She also served as Legal Director for British American Tobacco, supporting operations in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Morgan holds honors degrees in Law from Obafemi Awolowo University and the Nigerian Law School and has furthered her education with executive management programs at IMD in Switzerland and INSEAD in France.
She is an active member of the Institute of Directors and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, and she played a key role as the first Chairperson of the Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance in Nigeria.
Her leadership in corporate affairs, regulatory strategy, and public policy has positioned Morgan as a respected figure in Nigeria’s private sector.
Her ability to navigate complex regulatory environments and build strong teams will be vital as she leads Heineken’s Corporate Affairs agenda across the Africa & Middle East region.
