The Board of Champion Breweries has approved the appointment of Mr. Malolan Sampath as its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 September 2026.
Malolan Sampath is an accomplished executive with over 26 years of international leadership experience across the beverage, FMCG, manufacturing and agro-industrial sectors, having built and led businesses up to US$500 million in scale.
Professional Experience
Prior to his appointment, he served as Managing Director of the NPK Joint Venture and Chief Marketing Officer for Domestic Fertilizers at Indorama Eleme Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited in Nigeria. In that dual role, he led a $500 million fertilizer business with over 300 employees and was responsible for the company’s domestic fertilizer marketing operations.
During his tenure at Indorama, he delivered operational efficiencies and significant cost savings through digital transformation initiatives and process optimisation. He also expanded market share for neem-coated urea products, contributing substantial revenue growth, while leading the business to positive cash flow through asset optimization and cost-control measures.
Before joining Indorama, Sampath served as Managing Director of Unique Beverages SA in Angola, where he oversaw a $250 million beverage business employing more than 600 people. Under his leadership, the company launched the successful ‘YOLO’ ready-to-drink brand, expanded its distribution network and improved supply chain efficiency.
His previous experience includes serving as Chief Executive Officer of Global Industries Limited in Zambia, where he managed multiple businesses spanning edible oils, plantations, soaps and detergents, and logistics operations. He also held senior leadership positions at Al Hayat Pepsi in Iraq, Olam in Uganda, PepsiCo India and United Breweries in India.
Education
Sampath holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Management (MBA) from the Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development, Pune, India, and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Chennai.
To ensure a seamless leadership transition pending Sampath’s assumption of office, the Board has appointed Mr. Rasheed Ademola Adebiyi, Executive Director, Finance, to serve as Acting Managing Director.
The appointment is expected to strengthen Champion Breweries’ leadership team as the company seeks to expand its market presence and enhance operational performance within Nigeria’s competitive brewing industry
