Executive Team

Jan Vriens

Chief Operations Officer

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.

Khainga Sharon

Procurement Director

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.

Jurgen Paulis

Chief Finance Officer

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’”

Ahmed Sylla

Country Manager

Ahmed Sylla

Country Manager

Ahmed Sylla is the Country Manager of Africa Improved Foods since 01st December 2021 after his tenure as the CEO of PepsiCo Ivory Coast Division. Ahmed is a Commercial Engineer by profession with over 23 years of experience and expertise working in the food manufacturing industry. He has held various positions with top-tier manufacturing organizations including Nestle Central and West Africa as well as Danone (Fan Milk Cote d’Ivoire). He has amassed extensive knowledge in overseeing and managing large, complex, multi-million-dollar operations where he has been instrumental in driving business growth by guiding organizations to realize an improvement in their processes that ultimately improved their operational and business efficiencies.

Josephine Ngo Mawoh

Business to Consumers (B2C) Director

Josephine Ngo Mawoh

Business to Consumers (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.

ADDRESS

Africa Improved Foods Rwanda Limited.
P.O Box 766, Kigali, Rwanda
Kigali Special Economic Zone,
Agri-Park, Silos Site, Plots No: E3 F2.
Kigali,Rwanda.

CONTACT

Email: info@africaimprovedfoods.com

Find us on:

Facebook page opens in new window Twitter page opens in new window Linkedin page opens in new window

Go to Top

Executive Team

Jan Vriens

Khainga Sharon

Jurgen Paulis

Ahmed Sylla

Josephine Ngo Mawoh

ADDRESS

CONTACT

Copyright 2022 Africa Improved Foods