Summary
Overview
Work history
Education
Skills
REFEREES
HOBBIES
Community Service
Courses and Trainings
Personal Information
Languages
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Joseph Ifechukwu Ugbo

Lagos,Nigeria

Summary

A dynamic leader with a passion for growth and a proven track record as a change catalyst, known for breakthrough thinking and team leadership. Extensive experience in board relations, having served as a member of the board of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC and Chairman of the board of Directors of TAWADA Industries Ltd. Skilled in coaching and developing staff, process improvement, policy formulation, strategic sourcing, and operational efficiency. Expertise in supply chain management, staff performance evaluation, and corporate governance understanding. Committed to developing self and others while holding people accountable to achieve key performance indicators.

Overview

38
38
years of professional experience
3982
3982
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification

Work history

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BESTAF HOLDINGS LIMITED
Lagos, Tin Can Island
2019.09 - 2026.03
  • Responsible for medium /long term strategic plans, profit /loss account, governance and project management. Report to Chairman/Chief Executive Officer.
  • Actively engaged in building and commissioning of Bestaf Trading Company lubricant plant in Tin Can island Lagos.
  • Developed internal talent pool, enhancing organisational capability and retention rates.
  • As Supply Chain Team Lead, I negotiated high-value contracts for maximised profitability.
  • Provided direction during critical decision-making process to enable strategic growth.
  • Managed risk assessments with robust contingency planning.
  • Implemented operational efficiencies, resulting in improved productivity.

MANAGING DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC. NSPM
FCT, Abuja
2014.09 - 2018.08
  • Responsible for medium /long term strategic plans, profit /loss account, governance and chief operating officer. Report to Board of Directors.
  • JOB INFORMATION:
  • $300 million
  • NO OF EMPLOYEES: 1200
  • Fostered partnerships to expand business opportunities.
  • Oversaw financial operations for fiscal control and profitability.
  • Enhanced staff morale with effective communication and engagement strategies.
  • Delivered high-quality services by maintaining customer focus at all times.

GENERAL MANAGER

Dangote Flour Mills PLC, Calabar
2009.02 - 2014.02
  • Responsibility for P/L as well as general management operations
  • JOB INFORMATION:
  • ASSETS VALUE (Building, Plant & Machinery): $38 million
  • NO OF EMPLOYEES: 7 managers and 160 staff
  • GENERAL MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY:
  • Provided leadership and vision to Calabar flour business, co-ordinating total business activities (Business strategy formulation, Planning, Human resource, Budget, Safety/Health/Environment, Quality Assurance, Sales and Marketing as well as Finance etc)
  • Developed and implemented annual and long term plans for Dangote Flour Mills (joint responsibility with other members of the executive management committee).
  • Provided effective leadership, supporting staff development while engaging with customers thereby creating high customer focus and relationship with excellent results.
  • Established successful partnerships with other companies for mutual growth.

HEAD OF MANUFACTURING

Unilever Nigeria
2007.02 - 2009.01
  • Responsible for Foods, Soaps and Personal Product factories
  • Provided focused leadership through formulation and implementation of sound strategies
  • Successful implementation of ‘one Unilever’ transformation project
  • Integration of soap, food and Personal Product factories under one management
  • Development and implementation of plant reliability program leading to 20% volume and value growth
  • Development and implementation of quality improvement program
  • Development and implementation of cost optimisation program
  • Implementation of innovation projects
  • Recruited in March 1985 as a Management Trainee in Technical Division of Unilever Nigeria plc. Went through a two (2) year training program in management covering all Divisions (Technical, Human Resources, Marketing, Financial, IT, Logistics, Customer Service & Agribusiness) of business.
  • Developed training programmes, improving overall staff competency levels in plant.
  • Introduced automation processes, leading to reduced manual labour and increased accuracy.
  • Managed supply chain operations, resulting in timely delivery of raw materials.

FACTORY MANAGER AGBARA SITE

Unilever Nigeria
2002.10 - 2007.02
  • Responsible for soaps and foods factories
  • Integration of soap and food factories under one management
  • Implemented Plant reliability project (Improved output of soap factory by 80%, savoury by 35% and tea by 30%)
  • Decommissioning of margarine and oils plant with zero incident
  • Achieved ISO 14001 certification
  • Commissioned new savoury facility
  • Integration of Knorr into Unilever business
  • Implementation of innovation projects

FACTORY MANAGER SOAP

Unilever Nigeria
2002.04 - 2002.10
  • Commissioned the new soap factory
  • Ensured compliance with health and safety regulations at all times.
  • Implemented lean manufacturing practices to reduce waste.

PROCESS MANAGER, EF&P

Unifoods South Africa
2000.04 - 2002.03
  • Factory Consolidation Project
  • Commissioned new margarine lines
  • Optimisation of packing lines
  • Achieved A rating in FEQA audit (Unilever Quality audit)
  • Successful implementation of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) leading to 30% volume and value growth
  • Coordinated with multiple departments for seamless process integration.
  • Led cross-functional teams, fostering a collaborative work environment.

PRODUCTION MANAGER, NSD POWDERS

Unilever Nigeria
1998.04 - 2000.03
  • Commissioned enzyme plant
  • Active role in OMO reformulation
  • Improved productivity
  • Member of ABG(Africa Business Group) Supply Chain assessment team
  • Assessed Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and Unifoods South Africa
  • Streamlined production processes to enhance efficiency.
  • Tracked performance metrics for plant operations and reviewed regular reports to proactively identify areas of concern.
  • Identified opportunities to improve and streamline manufacturing processes to maximise time and revenue.
  • Championed continuous improvement initiatives for sustainable growth.

PRODUCTION MANAGER SOAPS

Unilever Nigeria
Lagos, Apapa
1996.02 - 1998.04
  • Implemented Air bleaching of palm oil project resulting in 25% savings
  • Championed continuous improvement initiatives for sustainable growth (Productivity improvement programs)
  • Fostered a positive work environment through effective leadership (People optimization)
  • Quality re-engineering
  • Reduced waste generation by 20%, promoting recycling initiatives.

SOAP FINISHING AND PACKING MANAGER

Unilever Ghana
Tema Ghana, Tema
1994.09 - 1996.10
  • Improved laundry soap volume by 25%
  • Improved toilet soaps volume by 15%
  • Developed and produced translucent Rexona
  • Commissioned two new Rose Forgrove packing lines
  • Delivered high-quality products to increase customer satisfaction.
  • Implemented cost reduction measures, reduced overhead expenses.

TECHNICAL PLANNING MANAGER

Unilever Nigeria
Lagos, Apapa
1993.04 - 1994.08
  • Stock reduction and optimisation
  • Reduction in working capital
  • Assisted in developing and implementing production plans to meet customers order and optimize resource utilization.
  • Participated in Sales & Operations Planning meeting.
  • Allocated production resources, such as equipment, raw materials and personnel, to meet production schedules.
  • Identified and resolved production-related issues, such as material shortages or equipment breakdowns.
  • Assisted in managing inventory levels, tracking stock movements, and optimizing stock levels.
  • Coordinated with suppliers, procurement and logistics to ensure timely delivery of required raw materials for production.
  • Developed Production status report, Production Schedule Report; including planned production, actual production, and variances, and Resource Utilization Report.
  • Actively participated in the continuous improvement of demand and production planning process.

PRODUCTION MANAGER PERSONAL PRODUCTS

Unilever Nigeria
Lagos, Apapa
1990.10 - 1993.03
  • Improved capacity of Close up toothpaste production
  • Improved productivity across the plant
  • Implemented Quality improvement projects
  • Implemented Packaging innovation – change of toothpaste tube from aluminium to laminate.
  • Reduced waste generation by promoting recycling initiatives.

SOAP PACKING MANAGER

Unilever Nigeria
Lagos, Apapa
1989.02 - 1993.03
  • Development and commissioning of SWING(soap with included glycerine) process
  • Quality improvement projects
  • Productivity improvement
  • Led performance reviews, identified areas for improvement.
  • Managed team dynamics by implementing conflict resolution strategies.

SULPHONATION MANAGER

Unilever Nigeria
Aba, Aba
1988.01 - 1989.02
  • Capacity improvement program (from 1.5 t/hr to 2 t/hr)
  • Managed Process change from use of branched alkyl benzene (BAB) to linear alkyl benzene (LAB)
  • Enforced safety regulations to reduce workplace accidents.
  • Led performance reviews, identified areas for improvement.

Education

B.Sc. (Hons.) - Chemical Engineering

University of Lagos
Lagos, Nigeria

MBA - Marketing

Lagos State University
Lagos

Professional Certificates

Skills

CORE COMPETENCIES include:

  • Passion for growth
  • Change catalyst
  • Breakthrough thinking
  • Team Leadership
  • Developing self and others
  • Holding people accountable

OTHER SKILLS

  • Board relations(member of board of Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC (2014-2018) and Chairman of board of Directors of TAWADA Industries Ltd (2014-2018)
  • Coaching and developing staff
  • Process Improvement
  • Policy formulation
  • Strategic sourcing
  • Team mentoring
  • Supply chain management
  • Corporate governance understanding

REFEREES

Available on demand

HOBBIES

Football, Swimming and Reading

Community Service

Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, 1982, 1983, Research and Development, NATIONAL YOUTH SERVICE CORPS

Courses and Trainings

  • Association of African Banknote and Security Documents Printers conference (South Africa, 2014)
  • INTERGRAF conference on security document printing(Denmark, 2015)
  • Banknote conference (Washington DC, 2016)
  • INTERGRAF conference on security document printing (Spain, 2016)
  • African Currency forum (Egypt, 2016)
  • Leadership for Senior Executives(Harvard, 2017)
  • INTERGRAF conference on security document printing (Dublin, 2018)
  • Banknote conference (Dallas, 2018)
  • African Currency forum (Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, 2018)
  • Management Development course, Nigeria, 1985
  • Marketing appreciation Course, Nigeria, 1986
  • Unilever Financial Appreciation Course, Nigeria, 1986
  • International Management Seminar IMS, Netherlands, 1991
  • Regional Soap course, Pakistan, 1995
  • Regional Manufacturing management course, South Africa, 1997
  • ABG Supply Chain assessors training, South Africa, 1999
  • Regional margarine course, South Africa, 2000
  • Leadership Growth Profile workshop, Nigeria, 2003
  • Regional Leadership course, South Africa, 2003
  • Advanced Manufacturing course, UK, 2003
  • Interface and Conflict Management course, Nigeria, 2004
  • Coaching and Counselling course, Nigeria, 2004
  • TPM Instructors’ course, Egypt, 2004

Personal Information

  • Nationality: Nigerian
  • State of Origin: Edo
  • Local Government: Orhionmwon
  • Age: 65; September 12, 1958
  • Sex: Male
  • Marital status: Married with three children

Languages

English
Fluent

Certification

  • Member, Nigerian Institute of Management
  • Certified Unilever TPM Instructor, 2004. (certification by Japanese Institute for Plant Maintenance, JIPM)
  • Banknote Production Training (Intermediate Level, by Royal Joh. Enschedé in Netherlands, 2014)

Timeline

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

BESTAF HOLDINGS LIMITED
2019.09 - 2026.03

MANAGING DIRECTOR/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Nigerian Security Printing and Minting PLC. NSPM
2014.09 - 2018.08

GENERAL MANAGER

Dangote Flour Mills PLC, Calabar
2009.02 - 2014.02

HEAD OF MANUFACTURING

Unilever Nigeria
2007.02 - 2009.01

FACTORY MANAGER AGBARA SITE

Unilever Nigeria
2002.10 - 2007.02

FACTORY MANAGER SOAP

Unilever Nigeria
2002.04 - 2002.10

PROCESS MANAGER, EF&P

Unifoods South Africa
2000.04 - 2002.03

PRODUCTION MANAGER, NSD POWDERS

Unilever Nigeria
1998.04 - 2000.03

PRODUCTION MANAGER SOAPS

Unilever Nigeria
1996.02 - 1998.04

SOAP FINISHING AND PACKING MANAGER

Unilever Ghana
1994.09 - 1996.10

TECHNICAL PLANNING MANAGER

Unilever Nigeria
1993.04 - 1994.08

PRODUCTION MANAGER PERSONAL PRODUCTS

Unilever Nigeria
1990.10 - 1993.03

SOAP PACKING MANAGER

Unilever Nigeria
1989.02 - 1993.03

SULPHONATION MANAGER

Unilever Nigeria
1988.01 - 1989.02

B.Sc. (Hons.) - Chemical Engineering

University of Lagos

MBA - Marketing

Lagos State University

Professional Certificates
Joseph Ifechukwu Ugbo