Freda Duplan is an accomplished business leader with over 40 years of experience transforming organizations and developing talent. As the first African woman appointed CEO in Nestlé's Zone Asia, Africa and Oceania, she broke barriers and set new standards for leadership excellence. Her career is defined by a commitment to inspiring young talent, supporting women in business, and driving organizational transformation.

Currently, Freda serves as Board Chairperson of Zenith Bank Ghana, Independent Board Member of ZEN Petroleum, and Board Chairperson of DTRT Apparel (Mauritius) Ltd. She is also a Co-founder of the Executive Women Network (EWN), reflecting her passion for advancing women in leadership roles.

Her educational background includes studies at the Oxford School of Computer Technology and Slough College of Higher Education in the UK, complemented by leadership training at the London Business School. Freda's contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Outstanding Corporate Personality of the Decade (2021) and Ghana Women of Excellence (2020).

With expertise across FMCG, banking, and IT sectors, Freda continues to influence business leadership through her board positions and commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

Committee membership: Remuneration and Nominating Committee

Other Directorships: Zenith Bank Ghana, ZEN Petroleum and DTRT Apparel (Mauritius) Ltd

Nii Amanor Dodoo currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of PMO Ghana Limited, a professional services company established in 2019. In this capacity, he manages the receivership of five banks whose licenses were revoked by Ghana's Central Bank in August 2018, when he was appointed as the Receiver.

A distinguished accountant with over 40 years of experience, Amanor led KPMG Ghana as Senior Partner from January 2013 until his retirement in September 2019. 

Amanor's career at KPMG includes several key leadership positions. He headed the Audit unit in Ghana from 2010 to 2012 and worked on secondment with KPMG Nigeria from 2006 to 2010, where he led both the Energy audit unit and the Consumer and Industrial Markets audit units at different periods. He became a partner at KPMG Ghana in 1992, working as an assurance engagement partner for major multinational clients including Guinness, Nestle, Scancom, Barclays, Ecobank, and GCB Bank in Ghana, as well as several prominent companies in Nigeria.

Beyond assurance services, Amanor has extensive experience in special investigations and operational reviews across various companies. His expertise spans multiple sectors, including financial services, telecommunications, consumer markets, infrastructure, government, healthcare, energy, and natural resources. From 2002 to 2006, he was responsible for Risk Management, Training, Ethics, and Independence at KPMG Ghana.

A member of the Institutes of Chartered Accountants in both Ghana and Nigeria, Amanor's professional experience extends across Ghana, Nigeria, and the United Kingdom. His retirement from KPMG in 2019 marked the conclusion of four decades of distinguished service to KPMG.                                                

Committee membership: Audit and Risk Committee, Remuneration and Nominating Committee

Other Directorships: N/A

Lionel Parent is a dynamic international business leader with over 15 years of experience in sales and general management across the FMCG and alcohol industries. Effective June 19, 2024, Lionel has been appointed as Managing Director and Executive Director, following his successful tenure as Country Manager of Fan Milk since March 1, 2024.

Prior to leading Fan Milk, Lionel served as Commercial & Digital Transformation leader at Délice Danone Distribution JV in Tunisia. During this period, he revitalized the business through strategic initiatives that substantially improved profit margins while driving sales growth. His leadership in the Tunis Metropolitan area transformed declining volumes into positive growth, while his cost-saving measures and process optimizations strengthened the company's financial position and market standing.

Lionel's expertise in African markets has been particularly transformative. During his earlier time with Danone Africa, he worked with Fan Milk and successfully expanded the company's baby food business into new territories. His experience with premium spirits brands, including Glenfiddich and Absolut Vodka, saw him dramatically increase market presence across Sub-Saharan Africa, implementing innovative distribution strategies that multiplied sales in challenging markets like Nigeria.

A graduate of Skema Business School with a master’s in management, Lionel is bilingual in French and English and skilled in various digital analytics tools. Beyond his professional responsibilities, he remains committed to developing talent, actively mentoring food industry entrepreneurs and coaching high-potential African business leaders.

With his expertise in business strategy, digital transformation, and change management, Lionel has proven himself to be an exceptional leader capable of driving growth and profitability in diverse and challenging markets across Africa and Europe.

Committee membership: Remuneration and Nominating Committee

Other Directorships: N/A

Jakub Kalinowski is a seasoned finance executive currently serving as Vice President Finance for Danone's Africa, Middle East, and Asia regions (AMEA). With over 20 years of experience in the FMCG sector, he has built a distinguished career marked by strategic leadership and operational excellence.

Throughout his tenure at Danone, which began in 2002, Jakub has consistently demonstrated exceptional financial acumen and leadership capabilities. As Finance Director for the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), he successfully managed a €1.2B business unit, integrating multiple finance organizations while protecting profitability during periods of market volatility. 

A multilingual professional fluent in English, German, and Polish, Jakub holds a master’s degree in international relations, Finance and Banking from the Warsaw School of Economics, and is an alumnus of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants. His approach combines analytical thinking with strong interpersonal skills, making him particularly effective in multicultural business environments.

Before joining Danone, Jakub managed projects at an internet startup, where he developed his project management expertise working with multinational clients across various sectors.

Committee Membership: Audit and Risk Committee

Other Directorships: Chairman, Nutricia MMP (Iran) and Board member in other Danone entities.

Mr. Barrere brought a wealth of operational and leadership expertise to Fan Milk PLC.His extensive experience and regional insights position him to drive growth and brand-building across Africa.

Mr. Barrere commenced his career in the banking sector, accumulating valuable experience over 8 years. During his 12-year tenure at Nestlé, he held various pivotal positions. Notably, he served as Managing Director in the Congo and Central Africa regions.

 

In 2017, Mr. Barrere joined Danone to lead the Fan Milk Danone business in Nigeria as Managing Director. Subsequently, he assumed the role of Managing Director for the Danone Algeria business unit in 2019. Since the beginning of 2023, he has been the Managing Director of Danone South Africa. He has post-graduate certifications from Paris XII University and French Polynesia University.

Committee Membership: Audit and Risk Committee, Remuneration and Nominating Committee

Other Directorships: Chairman, Fan Milk International A/S.

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