SOLA OKE
Chief Executive Officer, Pernod Ricard Africa
Prior to being CEO of Pernod Ricard Africa, Sola held multiple roles at Pernod Ricard over the last ten years. His most recent role was Managing Director for Pernod Ricard Nigeria and Western Africa. Sola's strategic insight and leadership have played a pivotal role in driving the company's growth across the Africa region.
In addition to his profound industry experience, Sola also has a master's degree from the University of Manchester and Cardiff Business School.
PAMELA NKUNA
Corporate Affairs Director, Pernod Ricard South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
Pamela has more than two decades of diverse experience in corporate social responsibility, regulatory, public, and corporate affairs, law, project administration, sales, as well as credit and debt collections. Pamela worked at SAB/AB-Inbev for nine years and gained experience in regulatory affairs and government relations during this time before joining Pernod Ricard in July 2021.
In her role as corporate affairs director, Pamela is responsible for building and enhancing stakeholder relationships, overseeing Employee Equity Reporting, and leading the deployment of the company’s Health and Safety strategy. She also plays an active role in the Alcohol Industry Federation, assisting it to define its strategy, vision, mission, constitution, terms of reference, and road map. She also oversees its corporate governance and ensures legal compliance.
Pamela was recently elected as the first black female chairperson of the South African Liquor Brand owners Association.
With a strong background in law, and a passion for building relationships with and between people in the private, public, and civil society spheres, Pamela is committed to helping make this world a better, more conscious, and responsible place for everyone.
SHIREEN MAHARAJ
Human Resources Director, Pernod Ricard South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
Shireen started her career at SA Express Airways, working within their Operations Division before she moved to Human Resources. She then spent 13 years with Johnson & Johnson; first supporting their pharmaceutical business Janssen, before moving to Johnson & Johnson Medical as the Human Resources Director in 2009.
Shireen joined the Pernod Ricard Group in 2016 in her current capacity as Human Resources Director for Pernod Ricard South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
Shireen holds a BA Honours degree in Psychology from the University of KwaZulu Natal and a BA Honours degree in Human Resources Development from the University of Johannesburg.
BEN OJWANG
Operations Director, Pernod Ricard South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
Ben has held a myriad of senior roles within the supply chain across various FMCG’s companies including Coca-Cola, Diageo and SAB/ Ab-inbev where he was Logistics Director for South Africa before joining Pernod Ricard as Operations Director South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa in May 2019.
Ben holds a Bachelor of Commerce Honours degree from the University of Natal.
SHERMAN MOUTON
Commercial Director, Pernod Ricard South Africa
Sherman Mouton started his career in 1998 at ABInbev, holding various roles in Marketing, prior to moving to Philip Morris International in 2009, where he spent a further 3 years as Head of Trade Marketing for South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa.
He joined Pernod Ricard South Africa in 2012 as the Trade Marketing Manager, moving to the Head of Retail role in 2015 and then to the position of Channel Director Off Trade in March 2017. In April 2021, he assumed his current position as Commercial Director for Pernod Ricard South Africa.
Sherman has a Marketing qualification from Cape Town University of Technology and has completed a Management Development program with the University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business.
GAETAN MAGDELAIN
Chief Financial Officer, Pernod Ricard South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
After internships in due diligence and risk management at firms in London and New York, followed by one year as an Officer in the French Navy, Gaetan started his career in financial restructuring services within KPMG in Berlin and then Ernst & Young in Paris.
He joined Pernod Ricard in 2012 as a Senior Financial Analyst before moving to Internal Audit. In 2017, Gaetan became Head of Finance for PR Ghana/West Africa in Accra and relocated with his family to Lagos in 2020 to take on broader responsibilities as Finance Director PR Western Africa (including PR Nigeria, PR Ghana, and other West-Africa third-party markets). He was promoted to Chief Financial Officer Pernod Ricard South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa in March 2022.
Gaetan holds a Master’s degree from ESCP Europe business school in France, a MSc in Management from City University (London), and the Diplom-Kaufmann (Germany).
NTHABISENG MOTSOENENG
Marketing Director, Pernod Ricard South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
Nthabiseng is a self-starter who has built strong relationships with key stakeholders in the industry. She has over 20 years of diverse experience in marketing and has held various roles within multinational and local companies in the FMCG, beverages, and alcohol industry.
She joined Pernod Ricard in September 2021 and is responsible for sparking the magic of conviviality with consumers in South Africa and across Sub-Saharan African markets, supported by a diverse marketing team of African convivialists.
Her key strengths are in business development, with a proven track record of turning around brands in decline, portfolio strategy development, transformative innovation, and a passion for unleashing the creative potential of unlikely collaborations. She’s also incredibly by purposeful marketing, which she uses to achieve authentic social & cultural influence for brands while impacting communities and the environment.
Nthabiseng holds a degree in Marketing Communications and Industrial Psychology from the University of Johannesburg.
BRENDAN COOGAN
Chief Transformation Officer, Pernod Ricard South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa
Brendan took up the role of Chief Transformation Officer, reporting into the CEO of Pernod Ricard South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, after moving across from his role as Regional Director of Pernod Ricard Pacific Travel Retail. He is a member of the Pernod Ricard South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa Management Committees.
Brendan is responsible for developing and executing Pernod Ricard South Africa’s transformation strategy to support the business agenda, partnering with senior business leaders and teams to identify opportunities. He will focus on four key functions: Business Strategy, Sales Transformation, Augmented Profitability, and Data and Insights.
Brendan brings 16 years of experience in the international environment. He has worked in various private equity and multinational FMCG companies, including KraftHeinz, nudie Foods, and Accolade Wines, as well as Pernod Ricard Australia and Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail.
Brendan holds a Bachelor of Business Marketing from the University of Western Sydney, and an Advanced Diploma of Business (Marketing) from TAFE NSW South Western Sydney Institute