By Funsho Arogundade
While gender equality in the boardrooms has not yet reached its full potential, there are now some evident cracks on the glass ceiling. More female executives are beginning to receive the recognition they deserve on the corporate boards. Perhaps one of the most influential women in corporate business blazing this trail is Sade Morgan, the immediate past Corporate Affairs Director of Nigerian Breweries Plc.
This Corporate Amazon has been elevated to a global role at The Heineken Company as the Corporate Affairs Director for Heineken Africa & Middle East (AME) region. Her appointment was announced recently by the Managing Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Hans Essaadi and Morgan has since resumed her appointment which took effect on May 1, 2025. She succeeded David Paterson and became the first regional national from the AME region to hold this senior leadership role.
In this role, Morgan joins both the Heineken Global Corporate Affairs Leadership Team and the Heineken AME Management Team to continue to drive the Corporate Affairs strategy in advancing the growth agenda and protecting the reputation for HEINEKEN in the AME region.
Since joining Nigerian Breweries Plc in 2018 as Corporate Affairs Director, Morgan has led high-stakes regulatory and fiscal engagements in a dynamic operating environment, driving a robust optimal business climate agenda for the Nigerian business, mitigating significant excise tax increases and securing a more viable regulatory framework. Beyond her role in regulatory affairs, she has also provided strategic leadership in advancing Heineken’s Brew a Better World sustainability ambitions and goals in Nigeria.
A highly accomplished corporate executive with a remarkable 27-year track record of driving business growth, managing risk, and leading high-performing teams across various industries, including fast-moving consumer goods, tobacco, and beverages, Morgan is a distinguished alumnus of prestigious business schools —IMD (Switzerland) and INSEAD (France). She holds degrees in Law from Obafemi Awolowo University and the Nigerian Law School.
Prior to joining Heineken, she had worked as Legal, Public Affairs & Communications Director at Nigerian Bottling Company —a subsidiary of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company. Before then, she also held senior legal, corporate affairs and regulatory roles at British American Tobacco.
She is happily married with three children to Seye Morgan, MD/CEO, Rihago Auction Ltd.