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.

Yannick Theys

Chief Finance Officer

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Yannick Theys
Chief Finance Officer
Yannick Theys is Africa Improved Foods’ Chief Finance Officer since October 2023. This is after a three-year tenure as Head of Finance for the European region of the Human Nutrition & Care business of DSM-Firmenich. Prior to this role, Yannick held many senior Finance roles across three continents, operating in Belgium, Netherlands, United States of Amerika, Switzerland and now Rwanda. Yannick is a result-oriented professional with a high business acumen and hands-on experience in Finance and operations management. Over the course of his 20-year career, he amassed extensive knowledge in key disciplines including Business Restructuring, Business Partnering, Operations Controlling, Project Management, Auditing. He holds a Master’s degree in Applied Economics from Hasselt University in Belgium.

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.

Osenaga Orokpo

Chief Sustainability Officer

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Osenaga Orokpo
Chief Sustainability Officer

Meet Osenaga Orokpo, our dedicated Chief Sustainability Officer, a seasoned sustainability leader with a wealth of experience in designing and implementing large-scale private sector-led and joint matching fund sustainability programmes. Osenaga specialises in agribusiness and multiple sectors, supporting businesses in integrating ESG/sustainability values into their overall company strategy and supply chains. Her expertise spans various commodities, including Cocoa, Sesame, Shea nuts, Rice, Maize, Soya beans, Oil palm, Yam/Cassava/Potato, Cowpea, Groundnut, Vegetables, and Cotton. Osenaga has spearheaded projects, including UTZ-RA certification, organic sesame, and CmiA/BCI cotton certification, demonstrating a commitment to environmental and social responsibility. With in-depth field and product knowledge across Sub-Saharan Africa, Osenaga leads program managers and large project field teams, collaborating with smallholder farmers and rural communities. Her sustainable initiatives have not only positively impacted national development but also contributed to company profits, increased farm yields, and empowered women. At AIF, our mission under Osenaga’s leadership is to address hunger and malnutrition across Africa by building resilient and sustainable food systems. Through nutritious, affordable, and accessible products, we aim to reduce poverty, create employment opportunities, and combat malnutrition among the most vulnerable populations in Africa. 

Rajesh Singh

Procurement Director

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Rajesh Singh
Procurement Director Officer

Meet Rajesh Singh, our distinguished Procurement Director, bringing over 28 years of expertise in P&L management, sourcing, trading, and distribution for various agro commodities across West Africa. Rajesh’s extensive experience spans key roles at reputable organisations such as Olam International Limited (Singapore), Arise IIP (Dubai), Wacot (TGI/Chi group, Nigeria), and Colgate Palmolive Ltd. His commitment to sustainable partnerships is reflected in his work with cooperatives, communities, and farmers, fostering long-term growth for agriculture in Africa. A competent professional in new business development, supply chain management, trading, commercial operations, sales, marketing, strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, and process transition, Rajesh has managed mid-size manufacturing plants in cocoa, sesame, and cotton operations. Rajesh, a Science Graduate from Delhi University, further enhanced his knowledge with short-term programs from MIT Sloan, Colombia Business School, and Babson College. His proficiency in achieving profitability through optimal resource utilisation, strategic planning, and team development makes him an invaluable asset to our team.

Chandré Phillipus

Head of Communications

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Chandré Phillipus
Head of Communications 

Meet Chandré Phillipus, our dynamic Head of Communications. With over 16 years of rich experience in multinational organisations spanning South Africa and the UK, Chandré is a seasoned communications professional. She is not just a communicator; she is a passionate storyteller who weaves impactful narratives across Africa. Chandré’s corporate communications expertise extends beyond traditional boundaries. She excels in crafting and executing strategic communication plans, ensuring our messages resonate with precision and purpose. Her adeptness in crisis communication and reputation management further fortifies our organisational resilience. Additionally, Chandré is dedicated to fostering a culture of effective communication within our team. As a certified Business Coach, she brings a unique coaching approach to enhance interpersonal skills, enabling our team to communicate with clarity and impact. Holding a postgraduate diploma in International Communications and Development from City University, London, Chandré blends academic depth with practical insight and her multifaceted expertise propels us towards effective and impactful communication strategies.

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.

Milestones