Christopher Umole Erhagbe

• Operations/Manufacturing
• Quality/Technical  Management
• Project Management
• Cost/Value Engineering
• Sales management
• General Management

• Coaching and mentoring
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Clear Communication skills
• Change management
• Analytical and Problem solving

Manufacturing consultancy on process optimization, Technical and Quality audits, Manufacturing advisory services, Product development and registration, Human Capital development and Technical Training, Recruitment support, Agricultural services.

Operations Director – The White Hag Brewing Company Sligo Ireland (Nov.2021 to Jan 2023)

Principal Responsibilities

Brewmaster in charge of all operational activities including Brewing and Packaging in cans and kegs. 

Standardisation of operational processes

Resourcing, developing, and managing operations employees. 

Managing the technical strategic growth agenda and transition from traditional craft brewery to a micro brewery.

Driving cost and efficiencies.

Lead consultant- Megamole Nigeria Limited (Oct. 2016 to Oct. 2021)

Principal Responsibilities

Manufacturing consultancy on process optimization, Technical and Quality audits, Manufacturing advisory services, Product development and registration, Human Capital development and Technical Training, Recruitment support, Agricultural services.

Recent Achievements

• Technical Audit and development of a Laboratory Management system for all the laboratories of Standard Organization of Nigeria June 2017 which is currently in Use.
• Recruitment support for international distilleries Lagos October 2016 that has transformed the personnel profile of the organization.
• Process Optimization for manufacturing operations for FRUCTA Fruit Juice Nigeria Limited February 2019 leading to a 15% efficiency improvement without CAPEX..
• Technical Audit and recommendation on how to reactivate the moribund Bendel Brewery Limited in Edo State October 2018. This has been adopted and awaiting implementation.
• Product development and Registration of Alcoholic beverage for Oxford Nigeria Limited. September 2017. Products launched and doing well in the market.
• Establishment of a 40acre Palm Plantation in Owode Ogun State.
• Feasibility studies done  for establishment of a Glucose syrup plant in Nigeria in conjunction with Jioke Nigeria Limited.

Technical Director – Guinness Nigeria PLC  (A Diageo Company) Jul. 2015 to Aug. 2016

Principal Responsibilities.

Overall responsibility for Supply Innovation and governance in Guinness Nigeria PLC

• Innovation and Renovation: Technical Innovation which is responsible for the overall supply and Technical delivery of all product and process innovation and renovation from conceptualization through development, commercialization and launch. Key Achievements include successful launch of a new RTD, a variant of Guinness stout and the commencement of Spirits production in Guinness Nigeria
• Quality and Capability: This involves the overall management of product and process quality, management of quality systems responsible for certification and audits etc. Also responsible for management of trade quality (customers and consumers) and maintenance of a consumer care line. Responsible for management of technical regulatory agencies like standards Organization of Nigeria. 

In addition to Guinness Nigeria getting pass mark for all audits, the GNPLC Technical Learning Centre was established

• Health, Safety, Environment and Risk Corporately responsible for occupational health and safety (policy, training, audits, PPE s, improvement etc). Also risk footprint management across the supply organization. Responsible for compliance to all environmental standards, waste management, Effluent treatment as well as managing the regulatory bodies Key Achievement was maintaining Zero Loss Time Accident, reduction in incidents and successful conduction of EIA for spirit production in Benin brewery.
• Cost Reduction Responsible for program managing end to end supply chain productivity agenda through process optimization, cost reduction, brand value enhancement activities, alternative materials development, etc. Key Achievements were qualification of local Spirit  and Soghum extract supply.
• Systems Improvement SAP process management and improvement, reporting of KPIs and business performance, new materials creation and recipe management etc.

Head of Implementation- Route to Consumer (Sales ) –  Guinness Nigeria Plc

June 2014 to June 2015

Principal Responsibilities.

Overall responsibility for implementation of the route to consumer program for Lagos Pilot and Rest of Nigeria that delivered an NSV of $28million in F15. This was managed through the following work streams,

• Channel management, which is responsible for distributor and wholesale transformation, through managed selection of distributors and building their capability and capacity. Also managing the dropped distributors for minimum impact on the business.
• Sales Force Expansion, which is responsible for doubling the sales force size and ensuring proper onboarding of new hires.
• Field sales Effectiveness responsible for defining field sales processes, driving performance management as well as building salesmen capability.
• Routing which is responsible for territory delineation, outlet survey, route mapping and journey planning.
• Finance which is responsible for business case and project reporting.
• Supply which is responsible for driving supply efficiencies and improving customer services in trade.
• PMO responsible for project governance as well as provision and allocation of sales tools, and vehicles.
• Sales Execution responsible for defining and executing outlet activation standards etc

Perfect Plant Management System Program – Packaging Lead- Guinness Nigeria Plc

Sept  2013  to May 2014

Principal Responsibilities.

Overall responsibility for leading the delivering of transformation in the entire packaging operations of Guinness Nigeria Plc covering returnable bottles packaging of beer and soft drinks, cans, PET and spirits packaging in bottles and sachets. 

The transformation was driven through Improved operational excellence, waste reduction, robust asset care regime, packaging quality enhancement, capability building and performance management . Impacted KPIs were OEE up by 6%, Beer waste reduced from 3.4% to 2.2%, bottle and Can waste reduction by 9% and Finished Goods Quality Index improvement of 12% 

 Plant Manager   – Benin Brewery (Feb. 2013 to Aug 2013)

Principal Responsibilities

Responsible for overall site operations of the about 3million hectoliters capacity Benin Brewery of Guinness Nigeria. This being in terms of Brewing, Packaging, Engineering, Quality, HR management, commercial services. Also support Sales and Customer Services operations around the Benin Division as well as ensuring a harmonious relationship with the host community.

This was done by 

• Ensuring that all products required are brewed and packaged to agreed targets volumes and specification with best efficiencies, while delivering excellent KPIs and best cost.
• Ensure the site is well configured to drive manufacturing excellence by driving and supporting improvement initiatives across the entire operations
• Ensuring strict adherence to Diageo’s CC&E, Health & safety and environmental standards and also ensuring the protection of life and assets on site.
• Ensuring that the Diageo people agenda is kept alive by ensuring a motivated workforce driven by performance that guarantees company and self-growth.

Key Achievements include recommissioning of the effluent treatment plant leading to a zero waste to landfill

Manufacturing Excellence Manager – Guinness Nigeria Plc   January 2012 to February 2013

Principal Responsibilities

Managing 5 teams in the Guinness Nigeria organization that are responsible for manufacturing excellence. 

The teams were Brewing Support, Packaging Support, Capability, Best Practise team and the SAP process improvement team

Key Achievement were Brewery end-to-end waste reduction of 34%, Overall improvement of  17%   in brewing and 11% in packaging OEE, 94% adherence to production plan, 97% completion of planned training and 100% achievement of planned operator license to operate program. 

Technical Manager –West Africa (May 2011  to Dec.2011) 

Principal Responsibilities 

Managing three teams based in 6 locations across west Africa with responsibilities for the Technical Agenda for the three Guinness operations in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroun. 

Responsibilities in the three markets includes, 

Brand services that delivered two major innovations, Guinness Extra smooth® in Cameroun and Origin bitters® in Nigeria

Supplier to Plant Management

Technology Development; this involves investigation and deployment of new process technologies, managing product technical manuals, The team, commissioned the Beer Membrane Filter in Ogba Nigeria and developed process beer recovery system in Cameroun that reduced process waste by 5.6%.

Quality Support. Site process technical audits, flavor matching and interchange analysis management. Trade Quality support and quality systems management.

Principal responsibilities

Total support to achieve manufacturing excellence in brewing operations for the 6 manufacturing sites in Diageo West African in Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroun.

Worked with a team of 6 direct reports across West Africa.

Primarily responsible for maintaining the highest level of brewing standards as well as the training and development of Brewers and Brewing technicians.

The role played a key role in achieving significant business benefits in the area of manufacturing excellence across the West African hub. Championed the use of global methodologies and continual improvement    standards to drive business performance and worked closely with the brewery leadership teams and acted as the site owner of the aligned holistic (Quality, value, service, reputation and innovation) Site improvement plan

All sites overachieved on set volume targets, and also delivered on quality and cost.

All of the sites(Cameroun came 1st and Benin- Nigeria came 3rd  and Ghana 6th ) were in the top ten of the global Guinness league of excellence in product taste of 33 sites.

Led a cross-functional cost reduction team Guinness Nigeria that delivered £7.8Million over and above the budget 

 Diageo, London (Secondment)

Key Responsibilities and Achievements

A member of the Diageo Global Operations Support team that was trained and implemented the Diageo customized continuous improvement programmed tagged “Perfect Plant – Manufacturing Excellence with Mckinsey and sons as consultants.

Trained and certified as a regional lead for the manufacturing excellence program in Leven (Scotland) and Dundalk (Ireland).

Jointly built the tactical implementation pack for Brewing, packaging, Engineering and Distilling around the 3 bubbles of Operating system, management infrastructure and Mindset, capabilities and Behaviors

Jointly led the roll-out of the program in Cameroun, Kenya and Uganda

Solely led teams of (15 and 20 respectively) in the implementation of the manufacturing excellence program in 2 sites each in Ghana and Nigeria with OEE improvement of 25.6% in Ghana and 23.4% in Nigeria

Significant achievement include marked improvement in packaging lines OEEs, increased output from the brew houses, improved quality of products across impacted sites, better asset care management, reduced waste across the operation, released capacities across the operations as well as safety and most importantly the embedding of better performance management.

Principal Responsibilities and Achievements

Managed a team of 38 made up of 5 shift brewers, 6 supervisors and 17 operators responsible for the brewing of Guinness brands. 

• Ensured weekly production plans are in place to meet agreed demand consensus figures.
• Ensured a 95% availability of product to the packaging lines.
• Ensured 92% plant availability to meet production 
• Maintained the production materials store ensuring efficient inventory management. 

Led the team to unprecedented performance that moved number of brews per day from 9 to a regular 12 brews per day

Optimized the brew house to deliver a record of 14 brews in one day

The team finished 3rd in the Guinness league of excellence (among the over 30 sites where Guinness is brewed worldwide)

Supported the brewery with beer that led to an 23% uplift in volume delivered.

Ensured promotion of 75% of the operators (most of who’s promotion was overdue)

Trade Quality Manager Guinness Nigeria Plc  (October 2004 – October 2006)

Set up the Trade quality function, developed and embedded Trade Quality standards, established the consumer care centre and consumer careline and helped reduced counterfeiting in Guinness Nigeria

Area Sales Manager Guinness Nigeria Plc (Juy1999 – Sep. 2004)

Responsible for a team of 14 sales managers and 112 temporal staff. Had outstanding delivery in sales output, salesmen and distributor development.

Product Development Brewer Guinness Nigeria Plc.  July1997 to June 1999   

Responsible for product and process development and managing the research laboratory

 Shift Manager   Guinness Nigeria Plc  (March 1996 – June 1997)

• Managed own shift to deliver set targets on volume ensuring that quality, cost and safety targets were also met.
• Training and development of operators

Graduate Trainee   Guinness Nigeria plc (Oct 1994 – March 1996 )

 Comprehensive classroom, on-the-job and leadership training covering Brewing, Packaging, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Sales and Marketing

Institute of Brewing and Distilling (past West Africa representative )

Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (Member)

Institute of Packaging Nigeria (Member)