Job Description :

Job Title: Head of Premium Spirits

Level: Senior Level

Reports To: EABL GM Premium Spirits  

Location: Nairobi

About Diageo

Diageo is a global organization with over 28,000 dedicated people and a presence in 180 countries. We invent strong brands for today and for the future, upholding the quality of our products and taking personal accountability for the history and future of our brands. 

African businesses account for over 10% of Global Diageo revenue, with a workforce of more than 6,000 employees. We create wealth directly through our operations and indirectly through our broader value chains, where we support development and growth in partnership with businesses and communities.

Today, Africa is a predominantly beer region, and we will continue to grow Beer fast. We also recognize an even greater opportunity in Spirits and recently reorganized our business to put focus on transforming and accelerating Spirits to double its current revenue through EABL Premium Spirits organization.

About the Function:

Our Sales team love building relationships, connecting with customers to sell our much-loved brands in new and vibrant markets where they can thrive. They help sell our iconic brands across 180 countries every year.

We’re operating across different markets, channels, and areas of expertise. Using your curiosity and passion, you’ll make the most of consumer insight and digital platforms, reaching new customers, markets, and celebrations to help us achieve our growth potential. We’ll support your learning and growth as you develop your career with us and work with people across our business to realize your fullest potential.

Dimensions

Financial:

EABL F30 ambition is to be build a Reserve and Premium Spirits business, be market leaders in the category and grow at: $250M NSV; Market Share - +70%

Market Complexity:

East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL), one of the largest companies in East Africa, has extensive operations in Kenya including Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) which produces, markets and sells alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in Kenya, and East African Maltings Limited (EAML) which sources raw materials for EABL’s business.  EABL has subsidiaries in Uganda and Tanzania, as well as export operations in other markets in the region, and is a subsidiary of Diageo plc, the global alcoholic drinks' company.

EABL is the largest business unit in Diageo Africa operates two spirits distilleries at Nairobi and Kampala, six breweries at Nairobi, Kisumu, Kampala, Moshi, Dar es Salaam and Mwanza and one malting plant in Nairobi.

Role Responsibilities:

The role is responsible for all aspects of the Premium business – strategy development, commercial planning, performance management (P&L accountable), supply forecasting and strategy/business delivery through the direct team as well as the key players in On and Off Trade Channels and Customer Marketing.

A People Manager role, reports to EABL GM Premium Spirits and sits in the Premium Spirits Leadership Team. It is part of the wider Extended Leadership Team.

Role Requirements/ Pre-requisites:

Externally focused Commercial Strategy Development and Execution: Uses a strong understanding of the external environment to drive the creation and execution of a clear and powerful commercially driven strategy for Reserve brands.Embed the Right Execution Standards:  Lead the planning and execution necessary to achieve world class brilliant execution of category plans throughout the year and keep up to date with category insights. Drive growth by improving the customer experience.Clarity in the deployment of programmes and tools that maximize sustainable profit for the Premium Spirits business, including trade terms, pricing strategy, promotional effectiveness (NRM)Relationship Management with key External and Internal stakeholders and Influencers Influences and leads cross-functionally to define and achieve Premium Spirits objectives, aligning relevant Customer and Consumer Marketing teams & the Channel-focused sales teams to deliver shared outcomes.Drive Segmentation: Using the city strategy, categorize outlet universe to agreed category guidelines and prioritize investment decisions to deliver incremental growth.Build capability across the value chain: Lead the capability agenda, ensuring that the teams are high-performing and developed in their roles and functions.People Management: Lead, coach and develop the Customer Marketing – Premium Spirits Team

Qualifications, Required Experience & Skills and Competencies

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in relevant fieldRequired certifications as required e.g. CIM

Required Experience

Minimum 7 years’ leadership and execution experience in a similar role, either within an FMCG (incl. drinks/luxury) environment or within the trade environment (e.g., hotel, bar or restaurant senior F&B experience)Working knowledge of P&L and budget management.Ability to lead, coach, and develop a team.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

Strong commercial and financial planning and decision-making skills, including channel profitability and targeted trade investment management.A passion for luxury and Reserve with an understanding of competitors, distributors and key customers:  their businesses and particularly their shoppers/consumers in the Reserve universeExceptional relationship skills: proven ability to network and influence across functions and levels.Knowledge and ability to coach others in both the Diageo Way of Selling (DWS) and Diageo Way of Brand Building (DWBB) capabilities and tools.Experience of change management, complex stakeholder management and participation in leadership teams.Cross functional and multi-cultural working experience

Flexible Working Statement:

Flexibility is key to our success. From part-time and compressed hours to different locations, our people work flexibly in ways to suit them. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported from day one

Diversity statement:

Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. And creating an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this.

We embrace diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be welcomed and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of shaping the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you. 

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please ensure that you capture this information when you submit your application.

Worker Type :

Regular

Primary Location:

Nairobi HQ

Additional Locations :

Job Posting Start Date :

2025-05-12