Cadbury Nigeria announces Ayman Gaafar as new Managing Director

Cadbury Nigeria Plc has announced the appointment of Ayman Hussein Gaafar as the new Managing Director of the company.

The appointment was disclosed in a statement signed by the Company Secretary, Afolasade Olowe, on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

With the latest development, Mrs. Folake Ogundipe will step down from her position as Interim Managing Director after leading the company since December 2025.

What the statement is saying

According to the company, Ayman Gaafar’s appointment will take effect from May 15, 2026, following approval by the Board of Directors.

The company stated that the appointment was made based on the recommendation of the Governance and Risk Committee of the Board.

• “The Board has considered and approved the appointment of Mr. Ayman Hussein F. Gaafar as Managing Director of Cadbury Nigeria Plc with effect from 15th May 2026.”  

Cadbury Nigeria said the appointment was communicated to the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the investing public.

The Board expressed confidence in Gaafar’s ability to lead the company and wished him success in his new role.

Cadbury Nigeria noted that the appointment forms part of its efforts to strengthen leadership and support the company’s long-term growth strategy.

Get up to speed 

The appointment of Gaafar means Mrs. Folake Ogundipe will officially step down from her role as Interim Managing Director after serving in the position since December 2025.

The company commended her leadership during a critical transition period for the business.

• Cadbury Nigeria said Mrs. Ogundipe demonstrated exceptional leadership during her tenure.
• The company praised her dedication, resilience, and commitment to preserving strategic direction.
• Her leadership was credited with helping stabilize operations during a challenging period. The Board acknowledged her contributions to the company’s recovery efforts.

Her tenure coincided with a period of operational restructuring and financial recovery for the company.

More insights

Gaafar joins Cadbury Nigeria with extensive experience across multinational consumer goods companies, including Procter & Gamble, Reckitt Benckiser, Danone, and Shan Foods.

The company described him as an experienced business leader with expertise spanning general management, commercial leadership, and business transformation.

• He has managed operations across Africa, the Middle East, the Levant, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Canada.
• His experience includes revenue growth strategy, market expansion, and organizational transformation.
• Cadbury Nigeria said he has a strong track record of building strategic partnerships and leading diverse teams.

The company also highlighted his expertise in full profit-and-loss management and go-to-market execution.

Cadbury Nigeria believes his experience across multiple regions and sectors positions him to drive the company’s next phase of growth.

What you should know 

Cadbury Nigeria returned to profitability in 2025 after recording losses in 2023 and 2024.

The company’s unaudited full-year 2025 results showed significant improvement in revenue and earnings performance.

• Revenue grew by 31% in 2025, supported by strong performance from key product brands.
• The company posted a net profit of N12.1 billion after recording a N22.2 billion loss in 2024. Gross profit margin improved from 14.1% in 2024 to 21.6% in 2025.
• Net profit margin stood at 7.1%, indicating room for further efficiency improvements.

The recovery marks a major turnaround for Cadbury Nigeria as consumer goods companies continue to navigate inflationary pressures and changing consumer demand.