Executive Team

Edouard Spicher

Chief Executive Officer

Edouard Spicher

Chief Executive Officer

Edouard comes with 25 years track record as a Senior Executive from the consumer goods sector with a strong background in emerging markets. Edouard has worked with organizations such as Nestle as Business Executive Manager and FanMilk as CEO across different markets. In his role as CEO for Africa Improved Foods, Edouard will further develop AIF’s strategy, creating the needed internal and external conditions to secure resources allowing it to achieve its objectives. This includes formulating and executing the joint business venture’s plan, stakeholder management and creating a high performing local team.

Prosper Ndayiragije

Country Manager

Prosper Ndayiragije

Country Manager

Prosper is the Country Manager of Africa Improved Foods; he is based in Kigali-Rwanda where he oversees and spearheads office business and strategic activities with our key partners, donors and suppliers. He joined DSM in 2009 where he served in different positions before moving to Kigali in 2015 to set-up AIF. He led key discussions with the Government and other stakeholders for its establishment. He has therefore been with AIF from idea conception to implementation. Prosper has cross-cutting experience combining Corporate Finance, Strategy, Business Planning, Geo-politics, Advocacy & Government/Public Relations and has a broad understanding of Public Private Partnerships and start-ups. He holds a Masters degree in Business Administration and in Humanitarian Assistance, lived and worked across several continents (Africa, Europe, Asia) for multinational companies/organizations for more than 15 years.

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’”

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.

Elias Shashati

Commercial Director

Elias Shashati

Commercial Director

Elias Shashati is a seasoned FMCG executive with over 23 years of experience in building and leading consumer goods businesses working with regional & multinational companies, in Sudan as well as Ethiopia & Saudi Arabia. In his current role as Africa Improved Food’s Commercial Director, he manages the organization’s commercial unit while overseeing operations in three markets i.e. Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda through a seamless coordination with an extensive on-ground team. Over the course of Elias’s career, he’s assumed a range of roles for companies across several markets, this exposed him to varying business climates equipping him with the confidence to delve deeper in the business world while broadening his experience. His extensive expertise includes Market & Customer Development, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Business Model Development, Organization & Team Development and Stakeholder Management. Elias holds a degree in Information Technology from the American University in Cairo (AUC) – Egypt. He is fluent in English and Arabic.

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
Phone: (+250) 788 389516

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