Executive leadership

Aba Location:
GZ Industries LTD.
Umueme Village, Obingwa Local Government,
Via Glass Force Road,
Along UMU Chichi, off Okpu Umuobo, Aba,
Abia State, Nigeria

Start date – June 2015
600 million cans / year

Uriel Kertesz
Chairman

Uriel Kertesz was appointed to the Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Director effective the 14^th of January 2013 and became the Chairman of the Board effective the 10^th October 2018.

Uriel is a Hungarian/Israeli entrepreneur and accomplished administrator of international repute, having over 40 years of experience.

Managed and supervised the execution of various engineering and business projects in Israel, Hungary, Nigeria and SA and more.

James Judson
Group Chief Executive Officer

James was appointed the Group Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors effective the 3^rd of February 2020. James is an experienced senior business leader who has enjoyed a 30-year FMCG based career with PZ Cussons International PLC in various leadership roles around the world.

A Marketing professional by training, James has worked in Europe, Asia and most recently for over 14 years in Africa in roles which include Supply Chain Director, Managing Director and Marketing Lead.

Ronald Tamale
Non-Executive Director

Ronald is a founding Partner and Head of sub-Saharan Africa at Affirma Capital, a newly formed, independent emerging market private equity firm which provides equity funding for expansions, acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and management buyouts.

Prior to Affirma Capital, he was Managing Director and Head of Africa for Standard Chartered Private Equity’s (“SCPE”) Africa division which was established in 2008. Before relocating to Africa in 2008, Ronald spent 6 years at Goldman Sachs in the U.S. as a Senior Associate within the U.S. investment giant’s investment banking division.

Derek Chime
Non-Executive Director

Derek is an Investment Professional at Affirma Capital, directly responsible for managing around USD450 million of invested capital under an USD850 million Africa fund. He is an emerging market investment professional with over 10 years of diversified experience in origination, deal execution, portfolio management and exit, corporate finance and principal investing in Africa.

Prior to Affirma Capital, he was a Director at Standard Chartered Bank’s Africa Private Equity business. He currently sits on the boards of four portfolio companies and is the Chairperson of the GZI Board Audit and Risk Committee.

Lara Rabiu
Non-Executive Director

Lara is an Investment Professional at Oppenheimer Partners (OP). Prior to joining OP, Lara held the position of Chief Financial and Operating Officer at African Leadership Academy for 6 years, co-shaping the strategic direction and establishing a strong financial and sustainability position for the organization.

She has also previously held various positions in the banking and healthcare industries, most recently at Bank of America and McKesson Corporation.

Yifat Folkman Malka
Non-Executive Director

Yifat is a Partner, Corporate Strategy with BDO Consulting specialising in strategic consultation for business entities, holding companies, and profit centers.

With 20 years of experience in strategic consulting, Yifat is a specialist in dealing with strategic dilemma, formulating growth strategies and turnarounds as well as formulating strategic guidelines, identifying suitable entities and accompanying mergers and acquisitions.

She holds extensive experience in various fields including logistics, agriculture, industrial plants (metal / plastics), security, food and services.

Ayodeji Adelakun Executive Director & Group Chief Financial Officer

Ayodeji is a finance professional with over 14 years of experience in both industry and accounting practice. Prior to joining GZI, he was the Group Head of Finance of Forte Oil Plc (now Ardova Plc) where he was responsible for the finance functions of the Group’s downstream businesses in Nigeria and Ghana, upstream services and power generating businesses in Nigeria.

He also worked with Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd where he was responsible for the financial reporting and tax functions of the entity. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, United Kingdom and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, Australia.

He is a graduate of Industrial and Labour Relations from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye and has a masters in accounting from Babcock University Ilishan Remo. He is an alumnus of IE Business School Madrid and has attended executive management programs at the University of Pennsylvania, the Wharton School, USA.

Michael Adiukwu
Non-Executive Director

Michael is an Investment Professional at Oppenheimer Partners with over 15 years’ experience in consulting, investment banking and private equity across multiple industries and geographies.

His previous experience includes time at The Capital Markets Company in New York as a Management Consultant and at Standard Bank in Lagos and Johannesburg in the Private Equity and Investment Banking divisions.

Taimoor Labib
Non-Executive Director

Taimoor is a Founding Partner at Affirma Capital and Head of Middle East & North Africa (MENA) Private Equity and Chairman of Africa Private Equity. Taimoor has 22 years of direct private equity and investment banking experience with leading international and regional institutions, including deep relationships with leading family groups, regulators, sovereign wealth funds and limited partners.

Prior to Affirma Capital, Taimoor was Head of Africa & Middle East Private Equity business for Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE).

He joined SCPE in March 2010 as a Managing Director and currently or historically sat on the boards of Al Jazeera Poultry, CEC, Eaton Towers, FINE Hygienic (Vice Chairman), GZI, Topaz Energy & Marine, Souq.com (observer), and Union Bank of Nigeria. Previously he was also Head of Global Private Equity Portfolio Management (2013-2016) overseeing the overall global portfolio throughout Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

Vince Raseroka
Chairman

Vincent (Vince) Raseroka is an Independent Non-Executive Director of GZI SA and also Chairs its Board. He is a highly respected businessman and a corporate governance specialist who has served in a number of large corporates at an executive level. Vince has experience not only in South Africa; he has done business in the rest of the African Continent and negotiated large business transactions with multinationals.

Vince possesses a wealth of corporate knowledge that he obtained during his career in the Country and in the African Continent wherein he ran multi-billion rand international and multinational firms in executive roles. Vince started his career as a Human Resources Officer, after obtaining a degree at the Fisk University in Nashville, USA (Magna Cum Laude) and quickly rose into more senior positions. In 1997 Vince Completed a Senior Executive Programme at Stanford University in California, USA. He furthered his studies at the Singapore Institute of Management. He later became Managing Director of Nampak Metal Can Manufacturing. His success in this division, awarded him a position with Nampak Spicers as Divisional Managing Director and soon after, Divisional Managing Director of PETPAK Division.

Vince later became a Managing Director of South African Airways Cargo; during this period, he was named Chairman of the Airline Association of Southern Africa as well as Director of SAA Express.

Once he made his mark in this area, he moved onto become the Chief Executive Officer of South African Airways, Technical, a company responsible for technical maintenance to International airlines such as Lufthansa, Swissair, British Airways, TAAG (Angola Airlines), Seychelles, to name a few. He achieved many milestones for this business in just over 3 years.

Vince has since held many Director positions, including Managing Director of Cell C, Chief Executive Officer of Telkom (Multi-links based in Nigeria), Executive Chairman of Chevron South Africa, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ellerines.

In the last 20 years, Vince has been involved in several multi-billion-rand Private Equity Transactions, concluding more than 20 transactions. In the last ten years together with his partners has started more than three businesses that have grown to values of more than R1 billion.

Maruping Mangwedi
Non-Executive Director

Maruping is a Non-Executive Director of GZI South Africa and Chairman of the Finance and Risk Committee. She has over 11 years of combined private equity and corporate finance experience across Sub-Saharan Africa.

She is a Principal at Affirma Capital, an independent emerging market private equity firm. Before joining Affirma Capital, she was a Principal at Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE), having joined the firm in 2013.

Her previous experience includes Mergers and Acquisitions within Standard Bank’s Africa Corporate Finance Division, where she developed core sector knowledge in sub-Saharan Africa’s consumer, industrials and agribusiness sectors. Maruping is a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants.

Alphina Kekae
Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director – South Africa

Alphina has over 12 years’ experience as a senior finance professional, with multinational experience across various African countries and has had strong exposure to complex manufacturing environments. She previously served as General Manager: Finance BME, a division of Omnia, where Alphina spent 10 years spearheading multiple strategic finance initiatives.

Alphina has developed and implemented best-in-class finance strategies, audit programs, comprehensive risk management systems and robust finance governance structures.

James Judson
Non-Executive Director

James is an experienced senior business leader who has enjoyed a 30-year FMCG based career with PZ Cussons International PLC in various leadership roles around the world. A Marketing professional by training, James has worked in Europe, Asia and most recently for over 14 years in Africa in roles which include Supply Chain Director, Managing Director and Marketing Lead.

Ruben Bassoli
Group COO

Ruben has over 39 years’ experience in the two-piece can industry (Latasa, Metalic and Rexam in South America) across various senior managerial positions, including heading up a 7.2 Billions Ends manufacturing plant. Ruben is an industry expert in can manufacturing technology and processes.

Yemi Oyetola
Group Chief Human Resources Officer

Yemi is a qualified and licensed Human Resources Professional and Resource Manager. He has proven competencies in start-up operations, including people strategy alignment to business operations and implementation, with 30 years of experience spanning the Manufacturing, Construction, Consultancy, and FMCG.

Yemi has had substantive experience in business partnering, managing and driving People and Organizational performance. Prior to Joining Gzi, Yemi was a Senior HR Manager with a key player in the Foods manufacturing sector. He is a Full Member of CIPM and has two Masters degrees in HR management and managerial psychology

Ayodeji Adelakun
Group Chief Financial Officer

Ayodeji is a finance professional with over 14 years of experience in both industry and accounting practice. Prior to joining GZI, he was the Group Head of Finance of Forte Oil Plc (now Ardova Plc) where he was responsible for the finance functions of the Group’s downstream businesses in Nigeria and Ghana, upstream services and power generating businesses in Nigeria.

He also worked with Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd where he was responsible for the financial reporting and tax functions of the entity. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, United Kingdom and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, Australia.

He is a graduate of Industrial and Labour Relations from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye and has a masters in accounting from Babcock University Ilishan Remo. He is an alumnus of IE Business School Madrid and has attended executive management programs at the University of Pennsylvania, the Wharton School, USA.

Vinnie Lutchman
Group Chief Supply Chain Officer

Vinnie is a professional executive with more than 30 years’ experience in the FMCG, primarily in the beverage industry in Africa and Europe.

Prior to joining GZI, he was the Global Programme Manager for Heineken NV in Netherlands, where he was responsible for Complexity Reduction, Innovation and Sustainability for the Group in Heineken Global Procurement. He joined Heineken South Africa in the capacity of Innovations and Strategic Projects Director before relocating to Netherlands.

Before Heineken, Vinnie was an executive at SA Breweries (later Anheuser-BuschInBev) for more than 22 years, based in Johannesburg, in various roles, including, Commercial Manger, New Product development Manager, Head of PMO and Head: Procurement (Southern Africa Cluster). He also had periods of employment with SC Johnson Wax, Simba Frito-Lay and National Sorghum Breweries, predominately in Supply Chain.

Vinnie holds a B.Sc (Hons.) Degree in Microbiology from the University of Durban -Westville, South Africa and an MBA from De Montfort University in Leicester, UK. He has both MCIPS and CPIM professional credentials from CIPS and APICS respectively, as well as being an Associate member of the Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD).

Samir Khan
Head of Operations

Samir has 20 years’ experience in plant management across multiple emerging markets including India, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria. He joined GZI South Africa as production manager following a ten-year career at the GZI head office in Nigeria. Samir’s previous employer includes leading global players, most notably Rexam India and Ball (United Arab Can). During his career, Samir has commissioned multiple plants, with a combined capacity of over 3,5 Billion Cans a year, with a focus on technological innovation.

Alphina Kekae
Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director – South Africa

Alphina has over 12 years’ experience as a senior finance professional, with multinational experience across various African countries and has had strong exposure to complex manufacturing environments. She previously served as General Manager: Finance BME, a division of Omnia, where Alphina spent 10 years spearheading multiple strategic finance initiatives.

Alphina has developed and implemented best-in-class finance strategies, audit programs, comprehensive risk management systems and robust finance governance structures.

Morwaledi Mahlangu
Country HR Manager

Morwaledi has over 15 years’ experience in Human Resources with Multinational experience and exposure in different industries such as Manufacturing , Retail, Media and Telecommunications. She has made significant contributing to HR strategy development and execution. Morwaledi holds an Honours degree in Industrial Psychology.

During her career, Morwaledi has partnered with businesses to assess people and business-related risks, potential loss of revenue and management of costs. She has developed and implemented HR strategies to drive business strategy and ensuring operational excellence. In her career

Morwaledi has successfully implemented HRIS systems and other performance improvement processes. She is very passionate about talent management to ensure that the business is geared to succeed. Morwaledi has played an instrumental role in driving a high-performing culture and ensuring engagement and stability.

Ayodeji Adelakun
Non-Executive Director

Ayodeji is a finance professional with over 14 years of experience in both industry and accounting practice. Prior to joining GZI, he was the Group Head of Finance of Forte Oil Plc (now Ardova Plc) where he was responsible for the finance functions of the Group’s downstream businesses in Nigeria and Ghana, upstream services and power generating businesses in Nigeria.

He also worked with Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd where he was responsible for the financial reporting and tax functions of the entity. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, United Kingdom and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, Australia.

He is a graduate of Industrial and Labour Relations from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye and has a masters in accounting from Babcock University Ilishan Remo. He is an alumnus of IE Business School Madrid and has attended executive management programs at the University of Pennsylvania, the Wharton School, USA.

Luiz Pereira
Group Chief Operations Officer

Joining GZI in 2021, bringing with him over 30 years of experience working in the aluminium can industry, Luiz started his career as a tool shop technician.

He has worked for major world can manufacturers in a variety of positions, from maintenance planning, production leadership, and customer service to commercial areas. Previously worked for Sandvik, world leading manufacturer of carbide can tooling, as Operational Manager for South America.

Most recently, his experience working for Ball can company in the position of Operations Director, saw him oversee the can facilities in Argentina and Chile, developing and adapting corporate strategies to enhance industrial performance according to regional demands while respecting local cultures.

Luiz has a degree in Mathematics and MBA from FGV Brazil/Ohio University USA.

Modupe Odusola Company Secretary and Group Legal Counsel

Modupe is the Company Secretary and Group Legal Counsel with over 14 years in Legal Advisory, Company Secretariat, Corporate Governance and Regulatory Compliance. She has held leadership positions in these capacities within the financial services sector in Insurance, energy-downstream, and pension.

Before joining GZI, Modupe was the Head of Legal, Governance and Compliance in one of the Insurance firms in Nigeria, responsible for monitoring current and emerging legal risks in the business, the enforcement of all Regional and Internal Policies and fulfilling statutory compliance with local regulations.

She is an associate of the Nigerian Bar Association and a student member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators.

Dirk Van Der Meij
Group Chief Commercial and Innovation Officer

Dirk is the Group Chief Commercial and Innovation Officer with more than 15 years of experience in packaging industry. During this time, he has held several leadership positions in both commercial and operational roles.

Before Dirk joined the GZI family, he was the General Manager of Benelux and Scandinavia for a leading global can maker. Previous to this role, Dirk has fulfilled several commercial roles being responsible for both global key customers and regional customers. In these roles, he has worked with customers to drive growth with a strong partnership approach that drives value through delivery of new business projects, innovative solutions and increasingly a focus on sustainability programs.

Dirk has a degree in Strategic Management at IVA Business School and specialised in Lean Management and Marketing.

James Judson
Group Chief Executive Officer

Ayodeji Adelakun
Group Chief Financial Officer

Yemi Oyetola
Group Chief Human Resources Officer

Luiz Pereira
Group Chief Operations Officer

Modupe Odusola
Company Secretary and Group Legal Counsel

Dirk Van Der Meij
Group Chief Commercial and Innovation Officer

Executive Leadership

James JudsonGroup Chief Executive Officer

Ayodeji AdelakunGroup Chief Financial Officer

Yemi Oyetola Group Chief Human Resources Officer

Luiz Pereira Group Chief Operations Officer

Modupe OdusolaCompany Secretary and Group Legal Counsel

Dirk Van Der MeijGroup Chief Commercial and Innovation Officer

James Judson
Group Chief Executive Officer

Ayodeji Adelakun
Group Chief Financial Officer

Yemi Oyetola
Group Chief Human Resources Officer

Luiz Pereira
Group Chief Operations Officer

Modupe Odusola
Company Secretary and Group Legal Counsel

Dirk Van Der Meij
Group Chief Commercial and Innovation Officer