Unilever Ethiopia plans to triple its annual sales within the next five years, aiming to reach 200 million euros. The growth push is led by 42-year-old Nesibu Temesgen, who took the top job this month, as the first Ethiopian national to claim the top executive position in the company. Unilever, a multinational company operating in more than 190 countries, established its Ethiopian presence in 2014. From its base in the Eastern Industrial Zone near the town of Modjo, the firm produces recognisable brands such as Lifebuoy, Omo, Knorr, Sunlight, and Signal, employing 7,000 local workers. It paid over two billion Birr in annual taxes. Unilever Ethiopia intends to diversify its product lines and adapt existing brands to meet changing consumer demands. According to Nesibu, he is determined to boost volume-led growth by broadening distribution channels and adding new items. Degsew Amanu, Unilever Ethiopia’s head of Communications & Corporate Affairs, disclosed that the firm will import certain products from its global sourcing units. It plans to explore domestic production at a later stage. “New products will be announced soon,” he told Fortune. Nesibu, who holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in marketing management from Addis Abeba University, brings 18 years of industry experience. Married with three children, he has served in management roles at Heineken Ethiopia and East Africa Tiger Brands. He spent nine years at Unilever Ethiopia, most recently as a director in charge of customer development operations, where he helped consolidate the company’s sales and marketing position. Unilever Ethiopia becomes the third multinational in recent months to elevate a local executive, following Coca-Cola Beverages Africa’s and Pepsi International's decisions to appoint an Ethiopian national to a similar senior position. Nesibu succeeds 60-year-old George Owusu-Ansah, a Ghanaian who managed Unilever Ethiopia for a year. Owusu-Ansah, who has more than three decades of experience across Africa and Asia, is retiring but will remain on the board of Unilever Ghana.

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