Akbar Ali Shah Joins FMN as Managing Director to Drive Strategic Growth
Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN) has appointed seasoned business executive Akbar Ali Shah as Managing Director, as the diversified agribusiness group moves to strengthen its strategic growth and expansion ambitions.
Shah announced his appointment in a LinkedIn post, describing the new role as an opportunity to contribute to FMN’s next phase of growth and support the Group’s ambition of becoming a leading FMCG player across Africa.
Shah joins FMN with more than 25 years of leadership experience across the Africa, Middle East and Pakistan markets. He previously served as Regional Director and Vice President at Reckitt, where he led the Sub-Saharan Africa cluster covering 42 countries and multiple businesses.
His previous leadership roles also included Chief Executive Officer of Reckitt Nigeria, Executive Board Member for Reckitt Kenya, and membership of Reckitt’s Africa, Middle East and Pakistan Leadership Team.
During his career, Shah has led businesses across diverse markets, including start-up environments, complex multinational operations and turnaround situations. He has also been involved in initiatives addressing health and hygiene challenges, workplace inclusivity, sustainability and digital transformation across Africa.
Known for his focus on organisational transformation, talent development, technology and strategic partnerships, Shah has built and developed high-performing teams, with several of his former colleagues progressing into C-suite leadership positions across Reckitt businesses.
Commenting on his new role, Shah said FMN’s scale, heritage and ambition present an opportunity to “build and deliver at a whole new level,” adding that he looked forward to working with the Group’s team to contribute to its continued growth.
His appointment comes as FMN continues to leverage its vertically integrated business model and extensive infrastructure as it pursues its ambition of expanding its footprint beyond Nigeria and strengthening its position in Africa’s FMCG and agribusiness landscape.
Founded in 1960 by George S. Coumantaros and headquartered in Lagos, FMN has evolved from a commodity trading business into a diversified food and agribusiness conglomerate with interests spanning food, sugar, agro-allied operations and feed milling.
The Group also operates across port operations, logistics, packaging and real estate, supported by a vertically integrated supply chain that enables it to manage activities from production through distribution.
FMN currently employs more than 12,000 people and operates one of the largest feed milling businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa, alongside its flour milling operations.
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