Uganda Breweries Limited (UBL) has announced the appointment of Felicite Nson as Managing Director, making her the first woman to lead one of Uganda’s most iconic and enduring brands.
Nson takes over from Andrew Kilonzo, who has been appointed Managing Director of Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL).
Commenting on the leadership transition, Jimmy D. Mugerwa, Chairman of the Board, Uganda Breweries Limited, said:
“The Board is delighted to welcome Felicite to UBL. Her appointment reflects our commitment to nurturing talent and strengthening leadership across our markets. This milestone demonstrates the strength of our succession planning and our continued investment in leadership development within Diageo. We are excited about the wealth of knowledge and experience Felicite brings to the business.”
Mugerwa also paid tribute to the outgoing Managing Director:
“Andrew has played a pivotal role in steering UBL through a critical period, including the post-pandemic recovery. His leadership has strengthened our growth trajectory, advanced innovation, and reinforced our market position. We are confident that Felicite will build on this legacy by deepening our market penetration, fostering inclusion and diversity, and driving sustainable growth.”
The Board of Directors joined Kilonzo in officially welcoming Nson to UBL during the ceremonial bell handover.
Who is Felicite Nson?
Felicite Nson brings with her extensive experience and a proven track record from leading roles across global organisations such as McCann Erickson, MTN, and Coca-Cola.
She joined Diageo in 2014 as Marketing Director for Guinness Cameroon and has since held a series of senior leadership positions in both commercial and marketing functions across single and multi-market regions in Africa.
In 2017, she was appointed Commercial Director for Diageo Ethiopia, where she drove transformative initiatives, including designing the first-ever Total Beverage Alcohol Route to Consumer, rolling out Distributor Sales Automation, and embedding the Diageo Way of World Class Selling.
During her tenure in Cameroon, she oversaw both marketing and commercial operations, spearheading impactful brand strategies for Guinness, Malta, and Smirnoff. These efforts delivered double-digit topline growth, strong margins, and ensured Guinness retained its market leadership and number-one brand status in value and equity for eight consecutive years.
Nson also championed Diageo’s ESG agenda through the “Malta Guinness Walk for Goodness” campaign, which promoted wellness and inspired communities to embrace everyday acts of kindness. Additionally, she led a successful premiumisation strategy for spirits.
Most recently, Nson served as Managing Director of Guinness Ghana Plc, having previously been Sales and Marketing Director from 2019 to 2023.
Under her stewardship, Guinness Ghana became Diageo’s fastest-growing market in Africa, delivering a remarkable 36% year-on-year revenue increase and an 83% rise in operating profit in the first half of F25.
Beyond her commercial achievements, Felicite Nson is widely recognised as a passionate advocate for talent development, inclusion, and diversity—values she has consistently embedded into the organisations she has led.
