Agthia Group Appoints Jeroen Nijs as New Group Chief Financial Officer Amidst Major Transformation
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – June 4, 2025 – Agthia Group PJSC, one of the most prominent players in the food and beverage sector in the Middle East, has announced a significant leadership change today with the appointment of Jeroen Nijs as the Group’s new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). This move comes at a crucial juncture for Agthia, as the company is intensifying its efforts towards enhancing operational efficiency, bolstering financial discipline, and fostering long-term resilience.
Jeroen Nijs, who brings over 25 years of extensive international experience in financial leadership roles, has a remarkable history of steering global businesses towards enhanced operational performance. His credentials include senior positions at notable fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) corporations such as Flora Food Group, Mondelēz International, Danone, and PepsiCo. Most recently, Nijs served as the Global Deputy CFO at Flora Food Group, overseeing financial strategies for a consumer packaged goods powerhouse valued at USD 3.5 billion.
In his previous roles, he has successfully led initiatives that capitalize on cutting-edge technology and operational frameworks. Noteworthy among his accomplishments is the introduction of AI-enabled Revenue Growth Management at Flora Food Group, which exemplifies his commitment to leveraging digital tools to refine business operations. His tenure at Mondelēz Europe was marked by significant roles, including Finance Director for mergers and acquisitions and Category CFO for the Meals division, where he played a pivotal role in enhancing gross margin and improving financial efficiencies.
Salmeen Al Ameri, the Managing Director and CEO of Agthia Group, emphasized the importance of Nijs’s appointment in a statement, saying, “Jeroen joins Agthia at a key moment in our transformation journey, as we sharpen our focus on operational excellence, financial discipline, and long-term resilience.” Al Ameri underlined Nijs’s extensive global expertise and innovative financial strategies, which will be crucial as the company strives to cultivate a more agile and data-driven organization. His leadership style, characterized by collaboration and integrity, aligns seamlessly with Agthia’s corporate values, providing a solid foundation for future growth and value creation.
As Agthia embarks on this transformative phase, Nijs expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the organization’s evolution: “It is a privilege to join Agthia at such a pivotal time. The Group’s ambitious vision and clear sense of purpose resonate strongly with my own values as a finance leader.” His commitment extends beyond mere financial oversight; he aims to build a consumer-centric organization that emphasizes sustainable and profitable growth on a global scale.
Nijs’s appointment is particularly timely, as the food and beverage industry faces unprecedented challenges and shifts in consumer behavior resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Companies in this sector are increasingly recognizing the need to adapt quickly to changing market dynamics and consumer preferences. Agthia’s decision to enhance its executive team reflects a broader trend among organizations seeking resilient leadership to guide them through a rapidly evolving landscape.
As Nijs steps into his role, he takes over from Hala Hobeiche Katounas, who served as the Group’s Interim CFO since January 2025. Hobeiche will now assume responsibilities as the Head of Mergers and Acquisitions, where her expertise in strategic growth will be instrumental in navigating potential future investments and partnerships.
Agthia Group has been on an aggressive growth trajectory, focusing on diversifying its product offerings and expanding its market presence. With new leadership and a clear strategic vision, the company is poised to not only solidify its position within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market but also to elevate its stature on the global FMCG stage. This appointment of Jeroen Nijs signifies more than a simple title change; it represents a critical inflection point in Agthia’s journey as it seeks to realize its long-term ambitions in the food and beverage sector.
As the Middle East continues to witness significant economic reforms and shifting consumer trends, the implications of such leadership appointments are monumental. They serve as indicators of how companies can harness talent to navigate complexities while creating sustainable growth.
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Tags: #BusinessNews, #EconomyNews, #UAE