Diageo Plc Top Executives Visits Asantehene

From left to right – Gabriel Opoku-Asare, Simon Harvey, Nick Blazquez, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, John O' Keffe, Francis Agbonlahor and Stephen Nirenstein

Senior executives of Diageo Plc, global leader in alcohol beverages and parent company of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), have paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia Palace.

The delegation was made up of Nick Blazquez, President of Diageo Africa and Asia Pacific regions, John O' Keffe, President of Diageo Africa, Simon Harvey, Managing Director of Diageo Africa Regional Markets, Francis Agbonlahor, Managing Director of GGBL, Stephen Nirenstein, Finance Director of GGBL and Gabriel Opoku-Asare, Corporate Relations Director of GGBL.

The visit to Manhyia was to pay homage to the Asantehene as he observed Awukudae festival.

It was also to officially inform Otumfuo of the departure of Nick Blazquez from Diageo PLC, who has served the company after 27 years and to introduce Francis Agbonlahor to him.

The delegation presented a portfolio of Diageo's premium brands – Johnnie Walker, Cîroc, Gordon's Gin, Guinness Africa Special, Orijin Bitters and Ruut Extra Premium Beer, Ghana's first Cassava beer to support the Awukudae Festival.

Nick Blazquez, in his remarks, expressed gratitude to Otumfuo for being a great friend and advisor to GGBL, stating that “we remain committed to Ghana, we are here for the long haul. We will continue to invest significantly in our operations, communities and our people.”

Touching on GGBL's local raw material programme, he said all locally produced GGBL brands now incorporate an element of raw material grown in Ghana, including the recently launched Guinness Africa Special.

Mr Blazquez said the programme has directly improved the livelihood of over 7,000 small and medium scale farmers.

His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II pledged his continuous support to the company both locally and internationally, expressing appreciation to the team for the visit and support.