Aare Fatai Odesile, one of the leading lights in the Nigerian marketing profession, is retiring as the Managing Director/Chief Executive of Grand Oak Limited effective from the end of this (third) quarter.
Grand Oak, a Sales and Marketing company which specializes in quality Brands of Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages which include iconic brands such as Seaman’s schnapps, Lord’s Gin, Bacchus Tonic Wine and Regal gin among others, bears the signature of the marketing egg-head having risen through the ranks and file to the very apex of the organisation.
This development brings to close, Aare Odesile’s 27 years of meritorious service and record achievements. “I have enjoyed every bit of my stay in both NDL and GOL, having risen to become the first entry level graduate to become the Managing director of the company”, he revealed to Brandcrunch as he confirmed the decision which sent jitters through the company’s cadres of staff and management.
From a modest beginning as a Quality control/production officer in 1992/93 to being NDL marketing manager in 2005 and subsequently the first Marketing Director of Grand Oak Ltd in 2010 and the substantive Managing Director of the company in 2016, a position he held until his retirement which becomes effective at the end of this quarter, Aare Odesile has left a legacy of tenacity and exemplary professionalism.
Aare Odesile, an Alumnus of the University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, London Cranfield School of Management UK, The Wits business school South Africa, Management Centre Brussels, is a fellow of National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria.
Aare Odesile has also held positions in the Nigeria Marketing communication industry including headship of Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), past Council Member Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON), Advertising Sectoral Group (HASG)
He is a council member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, a Trustee of the Distillers and Blenders Sub Group of MAN, is currently an executive council member of Committee of Chief Executive of Association of Food Beverage and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE) and a council member of Nigerian Employer Consultative Association (NECA). He is also a sport enthusiast hence an active member of the Ikeja Golf Club and Lagos Country Club.
Finding revealed that the retiring Chief Executive took over the leadership at Grand Oak at the peak of Nigeria worst economic recession in early 2016 and successfully led the company afloat and growing in 2017 till date.
“I remain eternally grateful to the shareholders and board of Grand Oak Limited and Nigeria Distilleries for giving such a rare privilege to have risen to the top of my career within a space of 26 years”, he declared.
Responding on the “What’s next? “I feel highly fulfilled to take on fresh challenges in other sphere of business”, he declared with a tone of finality.