Renowned entrepreneur Monica Musonda has taken up a new position as board chairperson of Zambian Breweries.
The company has also announced that Jito Kayumba, a partner at Kukula Capital, joins the board as an independent non-executive director.
Musonda takes over from Valentine Chitalu, who was Board chairperson for the last ten years, while Kayumba replaces Dr. George Sokota, who was also a long standing Board member, following the retirement of both incumbents.
“We are pleased to welcome Ms Musonda and Mr Kayumba to our Board. We will undoubtedly benefit from the unique perspectives and expertise of these two esteemed business leaders,” said Zambian Breweries Country Director Jose Moran, who added: “We also want to thank Mr Chitalu and Dr Sokota for their exceptional work in supporting the company.”
Musonda brings a wealth of business experience to the Zambian Breweries board. She has degrees from the University of Zambia, and University of London. She is the founder of Java Foods, the company that produces the popular eezee noodles. She has also sat on several boards including Airtel Networks Zambia, ArcelorMittal South Africa, Zambia Sugar and Dangote Industries. She was recently appointed as a member of the CAF Governance and Ethics Committee.
“I am honoured to be elected the first female board chair of Zambian Breweries. Zambian Breweries recently joined the global AB InBev family, and I am excited to be part of driving a vision of shared growth for the company, and the people we serve. Together with my fellow board members and management, we will continue Zambian Breweries’ culture of delivering quality products and meeting its sustainability goals and initiatives,” said Musonda.
Jito Kayumba, who also chairs the Zambian Breweries audit committee, brings a fresh perspective and extensive business knowledge to the board. He has worked in corporate governance for the last seven years and runs a private equity fund, Kukula Capital, which has been investing in Zambia for the last ten years, creating considerable economic value. He has also sat on numerous boards, from small businesses to large firms such as Airtel Networks Zambia.
“Zambian Breweries is a highly revered company that produces iconic products that are at the centre of celebration and camaraderie of most Zambians. Its scale and efficiency are of the highest standard and being a part of AB InBev enables its optimisation, up to a global standard. It is exciting to be part of a Zambia-focused business with a global DNA, challenging me to be better as a corporate director,” said Kayumba.