Ramesh Moochikal (2)

Ramesh Moochikal

Chief Executive Officer

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Ramesh Moochikal Chief Executive Officer
Ramesh Moochikal is the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Improved Foods since 1st June 2023. A senior global leader with a proven track record of over 30 years of financial and operating acumen, having managed successfully through various business cycles. He delivered growth through a mix of organic approaches and acquisitions. With deep experiences in starting up, growing and leading a high growth Agriculture and Food business in developed and emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Europe his current remit spans all business aspects including procurement, processing, supply chain management, distribution and marketing. Each of these demand diverse and detailed execution and risk management competencies.

Jan Vriens

Chief Operations Officer

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Jan Vriens Chief Operations Officer
Jan Vriens is an experienced international executive with experience in fine chemicals, resins, pharmaceuticals and food operations. A Master’s Degree holder in Chemical Engineering from the University of Technology of Eindhoven, he joined Royal DSM, a global science based company active in health, nutrition and materials in 1985 where he occupied several senior positions such as Director of Exports, Business Director- DSM Special products, Director- Strategic Projects and New Business Development and many more key roles all in three countries namely the Netherlands, China and Japan. Jan joined Africa Improved Foods (Holding), a joint venture of the Government of Rwanda and a consortium of Royal DSM, IFC, CDC and FMO in 2015. He currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer overseeing and leading all of the Company’s operations in Rwanda and later on in other Sub-Saharan countries where AIF will actively continue addressing malnutrition and stunting through manufacturing high quality nutritious foods. He has hands on know-how in Mergers & Acquisitions, Projects, Development and Strategic Planning and is passionate about inspirational leadership, people development and cultures.

Jurgen Paulis

Chief Finance Officer

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Jurgen Paulis Chief Finance Officer
Jurgen Paulis is Africa Improved Foods’ Chief Finance Officer, he assumed this role in 2017 after a six-year tenure in a similar role for DSM’s North America Division. Jurgen is a result-oriented professional with a high business acumen and hands-on experience in finance and operations management. Over the course of his 30-year career, he amassed extensive knowledge in key disciplines including Business Restructuring, Business Integration, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Partnering, Project Management, Financial Shared Services and Large Global Organizations. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Economics obtained from Erasmus University of Rotterdam and underwent several professional training programs from prestigious institutions such as Duke Corporate Education, IMD Business School and Controllers Instituut. He’s been recognized for his special achievements with awards such as “The New Jersey Technology Council’s CFO ‘Deal of the year’ Award” and “The CFO Studio Innovation Awards ‘CFO Success Award: Finance Department

Josephine Ngo Mawoh​

B2C Director

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Josephine Ngo Mawoh B2C Director
Josephine NGO MAWOH is the Business to Consumers (B2C) Director for Africa Improved Foods (Holding) since November 2021. She has extensive years of experience in F&B as Regional Marketing Director, in General Management as well as Commercial Management roles. She has an unconditional passion for the African consumers throughout her career, with multi-countries experiences in North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to settle in F&B, she spent five years in B2B sales (electronic, telecommunication and IT). In her various roles with Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Danone and FrieslandCampina, she has consistently led business and brands performances turn-arounds, designed and executed successful portfolio innovations as well as impactful commercial products launches. Josephine will focus on the redesign, relaunch, and acceleration of Africa Improved Foods B2C business (Business to Consumers) by driving the Marketing, Sales, Distribution, RTM strategy and execution, with a strong focus in developing the right product portfolio and brand management. She will also strive to lead a strong performing team through capacity building and promoting growth.

Sharon Khainga

Procurement Director

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Khainga Sharon Procurement Director
Sharon Khainga is a senior-level professional with over 15 years of experience in the wider Supply Chain specifically, Procurement, Strategic Sourcing and Category Management, Budgeting, Forecasting and more. Sharon holds an MBA in Strategic Management (UON) and is currently the Procurement Director at Africa Improved Foods, based in Rwanda since March 2022. She has held senior leadership roles at Nestle Equatorial Africa, Mars Wrigley and most recently at Upfield Kenya Ltd, as End to End Procurement and Operations Manager. Over the years she has developed a strong network in Sub Sahara Africa. She is committed to deliver first-class leadership to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence in a sustainable environment.

Gloriah Ngabire

Human Resource Manager

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Gloriah Ngabire Human Resource Manager
Gloriah Ngabire is the Human Resource Manager for Africa Improved Foods (AIF) with over 13 years of expertise in Human Resources and organizational development. She is a result-focused leader who deliver talent acquisition, retention, and motivation solutions and fresh thinking that help companies harness the full power of one of their most valuable assets – their people. Gloriah is passionate about people. Her experience cuts across different sectors including Manufacturing, Financial Services and Public Service. Prior to joining AIF Gloriah served at KPMG East Africa as the Head of Human Resource Rwanda serving both internal (staff) and external (consultancy projects) clients. Before that, Gloriah worked with Rwanda Development Board Development where she started her HR professional journey overseeing talent acquisition, performance management and employment engagement starting her career. She holds a bachelor’s degree In Human Resource Management from Makerere University, Kampala – Uganda.

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Operations Officer

Chief Finance Officer

B2C Director

Procurement Director

Human Resource Manager

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Ramesh Moochikal
Chief Executive Officer

Ramesh Moochikal is the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Improved Foods since 1st June 2023. A senior global leader with a proven track record of over 30 years of financial and operating acumen, having managed successfully through various business cycles. He delivered growth through a mix of organic approaches and acquisitions.
With deep experiences in starting up, growing and leading a high growth Agriculture and Food business in developed and emerging markets in Africa, Asia and Europe his current remit spans all business aspects including procurement, processing, supply chain management, distribution and marketing. Each of these demand diverse and detailed execution and risk management competencies.

Edit Content
Jan Vriens
Chief Operations Officer

Jan Vriens is an experienced international executive with experience in fine chemicals, resins, pharmaceuticals and food operations. A Master’s Degree holder in Chemical Engineering from the University of Technology of Eindhoven, he joined Royal DSM, a global science based company active in health, nutrition and materials in 1985 where he occupied several senior positions such as Director of Exports, Business Director- DSM Special products, Director- Strategic Projects and New Business Development and many more key roles all in three countries namely the Netherlands, China and Japan. Jan joined Africa Improved Foods (Holding), a joint venture of the Government of Rwanda and a consortium of Royal DSM, IFC, CDC and FMO in 2015. He currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer overseeing and leading all of the Company’s operations in Rwanda and later on in other Sub-Saharan countries where AIF will actively continue addressing malnutrition and stunting through manufacturing high quality nutritious foods. He has hands on know-how in Mergers & Acquisitions, Projects, Development and Strategic Planning and is passionate about inspirational leadership, people development and cultures.

Edit Content
Jurgen Paulis
Chief Finance Officer

Jurgen Paulis is Africa Improved Foods’ Chief Finance Officer, he assumed this role in 2017 after a six-year tenure in a similar role for DSM’s North America Division. Jurgen is a result-oriented professional with a high business acumen and hands-on experience in finance and operations management. Over the course of his 30-year career, he amassed extensive knowledge in key disciplines including Business Restructuring, Business Integration, Mergers & Acquisitions, Business Partnering, Project Management, Financial Shared Services and Large Global Organizations. He holds a Masters Degree in Business Economics obtained from Erasmus University of Rotterdam and underwent several professional training programs from prestigious institutions such as Duke Corporate Education, IMD Business School and Controllers Instituut. He’s been recognized for his special achievements with awards such as “The New Jersey Technology Council’s CFO ‘Deal of the year’ Award” and “The CFO Studio Innovation Awards ‘CFO Success Award: Finance Department

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Josephine Ngo Mawoh
B2C Director

Josephine NGO MAWOH is the Business to Consumers (B2C) Director for Africa Improved Foods (Holding) since November 2021. She has extensive years of experience in F&B as Regional Marketing Director, in General Management as well as Commercial Management roles. She has an unconditional passion for the African consumers throughout her career, with multi-countries experiences in North and Sub-Saharan Africa. Prior to settle in F&B, she spent five years in B2B sales (electronic, telecommunication and IT). In her various roles with Nestlé, Coca-Cola, Danone and FrieslandCampina, she has consistently led business and brands performances turn-arounds, designed and executed successful portfolio innovations as well as impactful commercial products launches. Josephine will focus on the redesign, relaunch, and acceleration of Africa Improved Foods B2C business (Business to Consumers) by driving the Marketing, Sales, Distribution, RTM strategy and execution, with a strong focus in developing the right product portfolio and brand management. She will also strive to lead a strong performing team through capacity building and promoting growth.

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Khainga Sharon
Procurement Director

Sharon Khainga is a senior-level professional with over 15 years of experience in the wider Supply Chain specifically, Procurement, Strategic Sourcing and Category Management, Budgeting, Forecasting and more. Sharon holds an MBA in Strategic Management (UON) and is currently the Procurement Director at Africa Improved Foods, based in Rwanda since March 2022. She has held senior leadership roles at Nestle Equatorial Africa, Mars Wrigley and most recently at Upfield Kenya Ltd, as End to End Procurement and Operations Manager. Over the years she has developed a strong network in Sub Sahara Africa. She is committed to deliver first-class leadership to drive continuous improvement and operational excellence in a sustainable environment.

Edit Content
Gloriah Ngabire Human Resource Manager
Gloriah Ngabire is the Human Resource Manager for Africa Improved Foods (AIF) with over 13 years of expertise in Human Resources and organizational development. She is a result-focused leader who deliver talent acquisition, retention, and motivation solutions and fresh thinking that help companies harness the full power of one of their most valuable assets – their people. Gloriah is passionate about people. Her experience cuts across different sectors including Manufacturing, Financial Services and Public Service. Prior to joining AIF Gloriah served at KPMG East Africa as the Head of Human Resource Rwanda serving both internal (staff) and external (consultancy projects) clients. Before that, Gloriah worked with Rwanda Development Board Development where she started her HR professional journey overseeing talent acquisition, performance management and employment engagement starting her career. She holds a bachelor’s degree In Human Resource Management from Makerere University, Kampala – Uganda.

Milestones