Jobs/Appointments
Bill Thomas Elected KPMG Global Chairman
By Dipo Olowookere
A 49-year-old Canadian named Mr Bill Thomas has been elected as Chairman of KPMG International. He succeeds 62-year-old Mr John Veihmeyer, who is completing his term as Chairman and retiring from the firm, at the end of September 2017.
Mr Thomas is set to take over the position effective October 1, 2017 and will lead the KPMG global network of professional services firms for a 4-year term.
Mr Thomas, who was elected to his new role by KPMG International’s Global Council, has served as Chairman of KPMG’s Americas region since 2014 and has been a member of the Global Board since 2009.
He has been a leader in defining KPMG’s global strategy and a champion in promoting an inclusive and high-performing culture throughout the KPMG network.
Mr Thomas was CEO and Senior Partner of KPMG in Canada from 2009 to 2016, leading the firm in achieving strong growth in the market, and making strategic investments that contributed to expanding the firm’s capabilities.
In his 28 years with KPMG, he has also held a number of leadership roles in the Canadian firm and within KPMG International, and has served as an audit partner for prominent clients in a variety of industries.
Speaking on the development, Mr John Veihmeyer said, “I am extremely proud to announce that Bill Thomas has been elected to succeed me as Chairman of KPMG International. Bill brings an exceptional range of skills and experience that will benefit KPMG and the clients our professionals serve. As leader of KPMG’s Americas region and the Canadian firm, Bill has an outstanding leadership record of quality growth, innovation and collaboration.
“But what distinguishes Bill most are his qualities of integrity, sincerity, passion and personal commitment. I‘m confident that Bill’s authentic leadership will bring tremendous value to KPMG, our people and to clients.”
Commenting on his election, Mr Thomas said, “It is a great honour to be elected Chairman of KPMG International.
“Mr John Veihmeyer has been an exceptional leader and role model, who has strengthened KPMG immensely with his commitment to quality and integrity, and his focus on the culture of our global organization.
“I intend to build on the foundation John has put in place, and help KPMG’s 190,000 professionals around the world to fulfil their potential and bring their best in meeting the rapidly expanding needs of clients. I’m convinced the next few years will be among the most dynamic our profession has ever seen, and I’m excited about the opportunities that are in front of KPMG.”
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Nigerian Breweries Plc has announced the appointment of Mr Thibaut Boidin as its new chief executive, replacing Mr Hans Essaadi, who resigns from the position from June 30, 2025.
The brewer confirmed this development in a statement submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited on Thursday.
It was disclosed that Mr Essaadi is leaving the seat to take up another role in Poland as the head of Heineken in the European nation.
He drafted to head Nigerian Breweries on July 31, 2021, and his tenure has been marked by significant milestones, including delivering a net revenue of over N1 trillion amidst one of the most challenging economic landscapes in Nigeria in recent history.
His clarity and resilience steered the company through foreign exchange constraints, high inflation, and liquidity pressures, while keeping the organisation fundamentals firmly on track.
He oversaw the firm’s recent business recovery plan which included the raising of N550 billion via a rights issue, the biggest equity raising effort in the Nigerian capital market, and has helped to put the company back on the path of profitability.
His successor will be expected to build on these legacies, particularly because of his experience in the field.
He is currently the Managing Director of Heineken Romania, one of Heineken’s largest operations in Eastern Europe.
He joined the organisation in 2017 as Deputy CEO of France Boissons and added to his scope in 2020 the role of Heineken France Chief Transformation Officer. He was also the Chief
Transformation Officer of Heineken Europe based in Amsterdam before his current role in Romania.
Prior to joining Heineken, Mr Boidin had served as an Officer in the French Armed Forces across different continents before transitioning to the corporate world where he held senior/executive and Managing Director positions in French organisations, including Elis and Veolia.
By Dipo Olowookere
Ms Idu Okwuosa-Okeahialam has been appointed as the new Managing Director of Royal Exchange Plc after successfully undergoing the necessary process prior to her appointment.
Her appointment was approved by the board of the company, a statement from the organisation to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited disclosed.
It was stated that Ms Okwuosa-Okeahialam will assume the new position from Wednesday, May 21, 2025. She is expected to support the company’s continued growth and success.
Royal Exchange expressed confidence that the new leader of the management team is armed with the requisite skills and experience to make a meaningful contribution to the board.
She is expected to provide strategic leadership while exploring new opportunities for the business.
Ms Okwuosa-Okeahialam is a finance professional with over 15 years’ core experience spanning across various industries including oil & gas; banking; and financial services.
She is experienced in funds management, compliance and risk administration, sales, client relationship management and customer experience.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Mr Abdallah Simba has been chosen to lead the operations of Japan Tobacco International (JTI) in Nigeria effective Thursday, May 1, 2025, succeeding Mr Thomas Adams, who has led the Nigerian business successfully over the past four years.
The new General Manager of the organisation in Nigeria recently served as the Country Manager for Slovakia, where he successfully led profitable multicategory growth and operational strengthening, positioning the business for long-term sustainability.
A statement from the tobacco firm said Mr Simba’s appointment underscores its commitment and ambition to deepen its footprint in the Nigerian market.
“I am delighted to lead JTI Nigeria at this time. Nigeria is an important market with tremendous potential, and I look forward to working with the amazing team here to continue to grow our business in a sustainable manner,” Mr Simba said of his new role.
Mr Simba brings nearly two decades of commercial and strategic leadership experience to the role, having held key positions across multiple markets and at JTI’s global headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
He joined JTI in Tanzania in 2005 in Marketing before taking on an international assignment in Ireland in 2009. He later transitioned into broader commercial roles, leading various Sales and Trade Marketing capabilities with increasing responsibility.
In 2013, Mr Simba moved to JTI’s global headquarters in Geneva, where he progressed into senior roles within the Global Commercial Strategy function.
In these roles, he led the optimization of business models, guided market strategies, and up-skilled commercial teams across a wide range of markets.
The new General Manager for Nigeria holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern New Hampshire University in International Business.
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