Who is Oghale Joseph? New CEO of PZ Cussons Nigeria

Oghale Joseph Elueni has been appointed Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc, effective June 1, 2026.

He succeeds Dimitrios Kostianis, who stepped down after three years to take up another role within the wider PZ Cussons Group.

His appointment marks a significant milestone for the company and reflects the confidence placed in his leadership abilities, extensive industry knowledge and proven track record of delivering business growth across multiple markets.

A Consumer Goods Leader With Global Experience

Elueni is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading consumer goods executives, with more than two decades of experience spanning Africa, North America and other international markets.

Throughout his career, he has built expertise in business transformation, strategic planning, market expansion, organisational development, sales leadership and profit-and-loss management.

His experience across multinational organisations has equipped him with a deep understanding of emerging and developed markets, making him a respected figure in the fast-moving consumer goods sector.

Leadership Journey at PZ Cussons

Before becoming Chief Executive Officer, Elueni served as Managing Director of PZ Cussons’ Consumer Business and was a key member of the company’s leadership team following his arrival in 2021.

In July 2021, he was appointed Managing Director for Africa, a role that placed him in charge of operations across major markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Uganda, Libya and Tanzania.

During his tenure, he was responsible for driving revenue growth, improving profitability, increasing market share and strengthening overall business performance.

His responsibilities also included talent development, employee engagement and organisational effectiveness. Beyond the African region, he contributed to global decision-making as a member of PZ Cussons’ Global Executive Committee, helping shape the company’s worldwide strategy.

Building Regional Success at SC Johnson

Prior to joining PZ Cussons, Elueni spent nearly a decade with SC Johnson, where he held several senior leadership positions across Sub-Saharan Africa.

As General Manager for the region, he supervised business operations and growth initiatives across South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Ethiopia.

His work focused on strengthening market performance, expanding brand visibility and improving commercial results.

He also served as Managing Director for West Africa, overseeing operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal. In that role, he led business expansion efforts, strengthened distribution networks and improved operational efficiency across the region.

Academic Background

Elueni earned a degree in Microbiology from the University of Ibadan in 2001.

In pursuit of continuous professional development, he later completed the Retail Executive Program at Cornell University in 2012, further strengthening his leadership and business management credentials.

Early career and rise at Procter & Gamble

Elueni spent more than 13 years with Procter & Gamble, where he developed his expertise in sales, marketing and business development.

During his time with the company, he managed commercial activities across several African markets, including Kenya, Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Gabon.

His responsibilities covered sales execution, distributor management, market expansion and retail development.

These roles provided him with extensive exposure to diverse consumer markets and laid the foundation for his future leadership positions.

International exposure and global responsibilities

One of the defining chapters of Elueni’s career was his appointment as Global Business Development Manager on the Walmart International Team in the United States.

In this role, he managed one of Procter & Gamble’s most important global retail partnerships and coordinated product launches across 27 countries.

He also supported commercial growth initiatives and social-impact programmes across Africa, Asia and Latin America.

The position expanded his international business experience and strengthened his ability to manage large-scale partnerships across different regions of the world.

Driving growth across West Africa

Elueni also played a strategic role in shaping business development across West Africa.

He led market strategy and planning activities covering 23 countries, overseeing brand development programmes and trade initiatives aimed at strengthening market presence.

His efforts contributed to improved retail execution, enhanced market penetration and stronger commercial performance across the region.

Championing rural distribution and market expansion

Among his most notable achievements was the development of innovative rural distribution strategies in Nigeria and Ghana.

These initiatives were designed to improve product availability in underserved communities and extend access to consumers in remote areas.

The programmes helped create hundreds of jobs, expanded distribution networks and brought consumer products closer to millions of people. Their success earned recognition within Procter & Gamble’s Central Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa region.

Making history at PZ Cussons

Elueni’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer represents a historic achievement, making him the first Nigerian to lead PZ Cussons’ African operations.

His rise to the top reflects years of consistent performance, strategic leadership and successful execution across some of the world’s leading consumer goods companies.

With extensive experience across multiple continents and a reputation for driving growth and transformation, he is expected to play a key role in shaping the future direction of PZ Cussons Nigeria and its broader African business.