Juliet Anammah recently made history with her announcement as the first female Chairman, Board of Directors of Nigerian Breweries Plc, effective January 1st, 2025. Before her appointment, she had joined Accenture, one of the world’s leading management consulting firms, as senior management consultant in 1999, and by 2013, she rose through three positions to Partner/MD overseeing manufacturing and consumer goods practice covering West Africa.
In 2015, Juliet left Accenture to join Jumia Nigeria as CEO. During her five-year tenure in this role, she directed the emerging market eCommerce company with over 1,000 employees across Nigeria to transition into one integrated marketplace, logistics, and payment digital platform. She presented the company at investor roadshows, leading Jumia to be the first African tech start-up Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). In 2018, she became a member of the Nigerian Industrial Council, a group of private and public sector professionals appointed by the President of Nigeria to define policies supporting the industrial development of the country.
Anammah was also once the Chairman, eCommerce Chapter of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry (LCCI) and a non-executive director of former Diamond Bank Plc. From 2020 to 2022, she served as chief sustainability officer of Jumia Group, and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Jumia Nigeria. In 2023, she joined the Board of the Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP), a non-profit agency funded by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and World Bank, to improve financial inclusion in the developing world. She also founded CJ&R Strategy LLC, a specialty consulting company advising consumer goods and retail companies on distribution and scaling.
Juliet currently holds positions that include: Chairman of Ecart Internet Services Nigeria Ltd. (Jumia), non-executive director, Flour Mills Nigeria Plc, independent non-executive director, ACCION Microfinance Bank Ltd., independent non-executive director, Accenture Nigeria Ltd., MD/Partner, APT Pensions Funds Manager Ltd. She is a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) and Capital Club Lagos, and Advisory Board Member of the World Retail Congress 2025.
Juliet’s illustrious career journey, spanning consulting, consumer goods, eCommerce, and more, is proof of what’s possible when women lead.
What motivated you to transition from your role at Jumia to joining the Board of Directors of Nigerian Breweries?
I am truly grateful for the opportunity I was given to join the Board of a respected institution like Nigerian Breweries. I do not take it for granted and look forward to helping shape its future in a dynamic and competitive environment. I spent a significant part of my career in consumer-focused industries, including more recently at Jumia. Furthermore, there is strong alignment between my professional background and the company’s vision. I also bring with me prior experience with Nigerian Breweries as a management consultant. That gave me a strong appreciation for its legacy, people, and strategic potential. I believe that my experience in digital transformation, market development, and governance can contribute meaningfully to the company’s long-term success. All these guided my decision to join the Board.
How do you think your previous roles have prepared you for your current position as Chair of the Board?
Each role I’ve held has built upon the other, preparing me for this responsibility. My background spans management consulting, consumer goods, and digital commerce—industries that collectively have given me a 360-degree view of consumer facing businesses. As CEO and later Chair of Jumia Nigeria, I led teams through market shifts, technological innovation, and operational challenges. These experiences have shaped my leadership style. Serving on Boards and executive committees has also given me valuable experience in corporate oversight, risk management, and aligning shareholder and stakeholder interests—core responsibilities of a Board Chair. I step into this role with a deep appreciation and respect for those who have served before me and a commitment to the company’s future.
What are your key priorities as Chair of the Board of NB?
My key priorities as Chair are centered around ensuring strong governance, long-term value creation, and stakeholder trust. First, is to ensure we maintain a high-performing Board that upholds transparency, accountability, and strategic alignment with management. Secondly, I’m committed to supporting the company’s continued focus on innovation, sustainability, and operational excellence in an increasingly competitive landscape. Lastly, I see our role as stewards not just of shareholder value, but also of community impact—so deepening our BABW (Brew a Better World) agenda. .
In your view, what are the reasons we have fewer women on Boards, and what can be done to increase those numbers?
There are several factors contributing to the underrepresentation of women on Boards, including limited number of women in senior leadership pipelines, unconscious biases, and a lack of targeted sponsorship or mentorship. Often, Board selection is influenced by “boys only” networks that have historically excluded women and unwittingly perpetuates a cycle of underrepresentation. To change this, organisations have a role. They must be intentional about identifying and nurturing female talent early in their careers. It is a numbers game. The more women in senior executive roles, the more women will make it to Boards. Companies must also see the value in having more women in leadership. It is not a DEI initiative, it is simple business sense. Successful businesses tap into the rich diversity of insights that women bring. Mentorship is also very critical. I benefited immensely from good mentors early in my career. They encouraged me to step outside my comfort zone and take on other leadership responsibilities outside of work. This can be very challenging for women who are already juggling work and home but it is worth encouraging more women to do so.
Women being their own advocates
There is never a perfect moment and you don’t need a title to be a leader. More so, it’s also important for women to advocate for themselves. More often than not, men are simply far bolder in advocating for themselves than women are.
Importance of balance in organisations
True progress comes when companies clearly see the value in having a good balance of men and women in leadership roles, and proactively take actions to make it their goal. As we’ve seen recently, diversity driven purely by external pressure can be transient and expendable.
