Debonair, decent and dexterous are adjectives we can use to describe our Man Crush Monday, Abiodun Ajiborode. He is a consummate commercial leader with an impressive 20 years’ experience in business leadership, strategic brand and marketing management, commercial operations, business model re-engineering, and innovation.
Launching his career with MTN as a customer service executive, Abiodun moved to H. Pierson Consulting as an Associate Consultant specialising in marketing and business development. He later joined Promasidor Nigeria as the Category Brand Manager, then proceeded to The Coca-Cola Company where he rose up the ranks to rising up to Franchise Operations Director. In May 2021, he joined Monument Distillers Nigeria Limited, the makers of the famous Four Cousins wine, as Brand and Trade Marketing Director.
Over the course of his marketing career, he has successfully managed leading brands such as Coca-Cola, 5Alive, Schweppes, Cowbell milk, Loya milk, Canoe and Zip Detergent, Castle Milk Stout, Miller lager beer, Castle Lite beer, 1960 Rootz Alcoholic Bitters, Seaman Schnapp, Lord’s Dry Gin to mention a few. He also led Coca-Cola marketing during the 2020 pandemic to deliver record-breaking performance despite several operational challenges.
With a BSc from Ambrose Alli University, Abiodun went further to pursue an MBA from the Lagos Business School. He is also a chartered marketer, with both the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Nigerian National Institute of Marketing. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the Swiss Business School and has attended several executive training programmes in top institutions including Northwestern University, Harvard University and Cornell University.
Abiodun is more than a brand professional, he doubles as a career and business coach. He is the founder of The Brand Management Academy, a practical marketing training school. Every detail of our Man Crush Monday is not only inspiring but also admirable. This is why we found him worthy to be our special feature.