Kenya

James is an experienced senior business leader who, prior to joining GZ Industries, has enjoyed a 30-year FMCG based career with PZ Cussons International PLC in various leadership roles around the world. A Marketing professional by training, James has worked in Europe, Asia and most recently for over 20 years in Africa in roles which include CEO, Managing Director, Supply Chain Director, and Marketing Director.  

Ayodeji is a finance professional with  two decades of experience in industry and accounting practice. Prior to joining GZI, he was the Group Head of Finance of Forte Oil Plc (now Ardova Plc) where he was responsible for the finance functions of the Group’s downstream businesses in Nigeria and Ghana, upstream services and power generating business in Nigeria (Geregu Power Plc). He played a significant role in the restructuring of Forte Oil Plc from African Petroleum (AP) and was instrumental to various mergers and acquisition initiatives of the Group especially the acquisition of Geregu Power Plc by the Group in 2013. He played a leading role in the subsequent successful divestment of the Group from its downstream operations in Ghana and Nigeria, the Upstream Service entity, and the successful sale of Forte Oil Plc to new controlling investors. 

Prior to joining Forte Oil, Ayodeji worked with Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd where he was responsible for the financial control, reporting and tax functions of the entity. Prior to this, he trained as a chartered accountant with Shofolawe- Bakare and Co (Chartered Accountants) where he in-charged major audit and tax engagements 

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN), an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, United Kingdom and the Institute of Certified Management Accountants, Australia. 

He is a graduate of Industrial and Labour Relations from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago- Iwoye and has a Masters in Accounting from Babcock University Ilishan Remo and an MBA from IE Business School Madrid. He has attended executive management programs at the University of Pennsylvania, the Wharton School, USA. University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and has a certification in Sustainable Finance from Cambridge University United Kingdom.   

Michael is an Investment Professional at Oppenheimer Partners with over 15 years’ experience in consulting, investment banking and private equity across multiple industries and geographies.

His previous experience includes time at The Capital Markets Company in New York as a Management Consultant and at Standard Bank in Lagos and Johannesburg in the Private Equity and Investment Banking divisions.

John Odindo is a seasoned and results-oriented leader, currently serving as a company director and the country manager for GZI Kenya. In this pivotal role, he is spearheading the establishment and growth of the company’s new aluminum beverage can manufacturing business in Kenya, with a strategic focus on expanding GZI’s footprint across the East African market.

With over two decades of experience leading global multinational operations like Honeywell, DuPont and 3M both East and West Africa, John brings a wealth of expertise in country leadership, P&L management, strategic planning, and market entry. He is deeply committed to fostering a culture of operational excellence, innovation, and team development.

Driven by a passion for sustainability and digital transformation, John is dedicated to anchoring these principles to drive lasting change within the manufacturing sector in the region. His academic background includes a Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) in Organizational Leadership and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategy from the United States International University – Africa. He also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, providing a strong technical foundation to his business acumen.