Nigerian Breweries Plc has announced the appointment of Sade Morgan, its current Corporate Affairs Director, to the role of Corporate Affairs Director for Heineken’s Africa and Middle East (AME) region, effective May 15, 2025.
The elevation was confirmed in a statement issued by Hans Essaadi, Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc. Morgan will succeed David Paterson in the regional role, marking a historic milestone as the first national from the AME region to be appointed into Heineken’s global Corporate Affairs leadership structure.
In her expanded role, Morgan will become a member of both the Heineken Global Corporate Affairs Leadership Team and the Heineken AME Management Team, where she will oversee regional strategy on corporate reputation, public policy, and sustainability.
Since joining Nigerian Breweries in 2018, Morgan has played a strategic role in navigating Nigeria’s complex regulatory landscape. She has led high-level engagements on policy and taxation, helping the company mitigate the impact of excise tax hikes and facilitating more viable frameworks for Nigeria’s beverage industry.
Her tenure also saw effective stakeholder management during operational disruptions, as well as leadership in driving Heineken’s sustainability agenda Brew a Better World in Nigeria. Under her direction, Nigerian Breweries strengthened its reputation for responsible business conduct and sustainable practices.
Morgan’s leadership has not gone unnoticed. She was recently recognised as the 2025 Outstanding Corporate Spokesperson of the Year and received the 2024 Corporate Communications Professional of the Year award.
Bringing over 27 years of cross-sector experience spanning law, FMCG, tobacco, and beverage industries, Morgan began her career in 1993. She has held senior legal and regulatory affairs roles at Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company and British American Tobacco, with postings across the UAE, UK, and West Africa.
She is a qualified lawyer, an alumna of INSEAD, and a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and the Institute of Directors. Morgan also served as the founding Chairperson of Nigeria’s Food and Beverage Recycling Alliance, championing environmental responsibility in the sector.
Her appointment underscores Heineken’s commitment to leveraging diverse talent and empowering leaders with proven track records in regulatory advocacy, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and team development to drive growth in its most dynamic markets.
