A slight reshuffling has taken place at Prima Garnet Africa (PGA),one of Nigeria’s leading Advertising Agencies, following the elevation of Mrs Yetunde Adesina to the position of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the business.
Yetunde, hitherto, an Executive Director in the Agency replaces the founding CEO of Prima Garnet, Mr Lolu Akinwunmi, who has assumed a new role as Group CEO of the Prima Garnet Group, comprising, Prima Garnet Africa, Nitro 121 (formerly 141 Worldwide), Media Share and Lampost.
Mrs. Adesina’s appointment is a reward for a combination of things, including experience, hard work, business development capacity and loyalty. She has served in various capacities and positions in the company and has devoted 16 of the 28 years she has sojourned in the Nigerian Advertising industry to growing Prima Garnet’s business.
Having joined Prima Garnet Africa in November 2003 as Associate Director, Client Services, she was promoted to the grade of Business Director in 2006, rising to become Executive Director, Client Services in April 2008, a position she held until her appointment as the MD/CEO. Before joining Prima Garnet, she has also worked at various times, worked in Insight Communications Lagos, General Oil Lagos, LTC Advertising Lagos, Vigeo Limited Lagos and Insight Communications Lagos again.
Yetunde is a 1987 graduate of the University of Ife (now the Obafemi Awolowo University) and holds a 1989 PGD from the University of Lagos, both in Nigeria. She has attended the following professional and Management courses among others: The Unilever African Marketing Course; the Unilever Leadership Training Programme in South Africa, several Brand Workshops in Nigeria, Dubai and Kenya; she has also attended many local training programmes. She has also served the industry professionally in many capacities, including the Assistant Secretary of the Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) and Ex-Officio, Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).
In the course of her colourful career, Yetunde has managed many brands and Clients, including: Unilever (Close-Up, Lipton, Sunsilk, Finnebru, Lux, Royco, Corporate etc.); Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Limca, Gold Spot, Corporate etc.); WAMCO/FrieslandCampina (Three Crowns); Nestle (Nido, Cerelac, Nutrend etc.); MNET/MultiChoice/DSTv; Glaxo Smith Kline Pharmaceuticals(Panadol, Lucozade etc.); FirstBank; Fidelity Bank; Diamond Bank; VMobile/Zain/Airtel; CBN; South African Breweries(Castle Beer & Malt, Redd’s); Lagos Lotto; Nigerian Breweries Plc (Amstel Beer & Malt, Heineken, Goldberg, 33, Life); Samsung;Indomie Noodles; Reltel; ABC Wax/Nichemtex; Lagos State Government; Federal Government; John Hopkins University/NUHRI.
Speaking on the appointment, Lolu Akinwunmi, CEO, Prima Garnet Group expressed his happiness at the appointment, especially given the wealth of experience of the new CEO, which he believes, will help steer the company to new heights and into new markets.
“Yetunde Adesina is bringing her enormous experience and knowledge to the new position, especially at a time like this when the economy and the industry are going through major changes. Her new role will be a major impetus to the Agency as we continue to deftly manage our Turnaround Programme,” Akinwunmi said in a statement.
Commenting on her new position, the new Chief Executive of Prima Garnet expressed her delight on her elevation, saying it brings with it new challenges that she hopes will enable her to help steer the company to new heights and into new territories.
“It’s a major milestone for me and I must add I that I have been humbled since the company made me its choice. A few other options could have been available both within and outside the company, but making the cut for a business like Prima Garnet is something that is fulfilling and challenging as well. Sometimes I try to imagine how I will be able to adjust to the feeling of being the CEO here and stepping into the shoes of an industry icon like Lolu Akinwunmi. But I am glad I am on this journey with the best team anyone can ever have, and together, I am very optimistic of steering this great business into new frontiers of value for our clients and stakeholders,” she stated.
