The Coca-Cola Company has reshaped its African marketing leadership with the promotion of respected marketing strategist Yusuf Murtala to Senior Marketing Director, Stills (Juice & Water), Africa, while simultaneously naming accomplished brand builder Osato Evbuomwan as the company’s new Senior Marketing Director for Nigeria.

The strategic leadership changes, which internally has kicked off, signal Coca-Cola’s continued confidence in African talent and its determination to strengthen local leadership while expanding regional responsibilities for high-performing executives.

Although the company had yet to make an official public announcement at the time of filing this report, industry sources familiar with the development confirmed the appointments.

Notably, Murtala’s elevation represents another significant step in a career that has consistently combined innovation, commercial insight, and brand leadership across telecommunications, consumer goods, and beverages.

Since joining The Coca-Cola Company nearly eight years ago, he has steadily climbed the organisation’s marketing hierarchy, taking on increasingly strategic responsibilities that have shaped the company’s consumer engagement and brand growth initiatives in Nigeria.

Throughout his journey within Coca-Cola, Murtala has served in several leadership positions, including Creative and Content Marketing Manager, Senior Marketing Manager, Marketing Director, and most recently Senior Marketing Director for Nigeria.

In each capacity, he played a central role in developing integrated marketing strategies, strengthening consumer connections, and driving business performance within one of Coca-Cola’s most important African markets.

Before joining the global beverage giant, the Fellow of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) built an impressive professional portfolio across leading multinational organisations, where he earned recognition for translating consumer insights into measurable business growth while delivering impactful brand-building campaigns.

Consequently, his latest appointment broadens his influence beyond Nigeria. As Senior Marketing Director for the company’s Stills business across Africa, Murtala will now spearhead marketing strategy for Coca-Cola’s expanding portfolio of juices, bottled water, and other non-carbonated beverages.

The category has become an increasingly important pillar of the company’s long-term growth agenda as consumers continue to embrace healthier lifestyles and diversify their beverage preferences beyond carbonated drinks.

Meanwhile, Coca-Cola has entrusted Nigeria’s marketing leadership to Osato Evbuomwan, a seasoned marketing executive whose career spans some of the world’s most respected consumer and luxury brands.

Evbuomwan arrives from Moët Hennessy Nigeria, where she served as Marketing Director, overseeing the growth of globally recognised luxury wines and spirits brands through culturally relevant campaigns, data-driven consumer engagement, and premium brand experiences.

Furthermore, her growing international reputation recently earned her a place on the Luxury Lions Jury at the 2026 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, placing her among the select group of Nigerian marketing professionals chosen to evaluate some of the world’s most outstanding creative work.

Her appointment equally reflects a distinguished professional journey built across several multinational organisations. She began her career at Unilever, where she managed multiple consumer brands before advancing to become Marketing Manager and Business Lead for the Skin Cleansing category across West and East Africa.

Thereafter, she joined Diageo, leading premium spirits portfolios across key African markets, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and Côte d’Ivoire, before assuming the marketing leadership role at Moët Hennessy Nigeria.

Over the past sixteen years, Evbuomwan has developed extensive expertise in portfolio management, brand transformation, commercial strategy, consumer intelligence, innovation, and market expansion, establishing herself as one of Africa’s leading marketing professionals.

Significantly, the twin appointments underscore Coca-Cola’s broader strategy of building a stronger pipeline of African marketing leaders capable of driving both local market excellence and regional business growth.

Industry observers believe Murtala’s deep understanding of African consumers, combined with his track record of delivering commercially successful marketing programmes, positions him to accelerate growth across Coca-Cola’s rapidly expanding still beverages portfolio.

Similarly, analysts expect Evbuomwan’s broad experience across fast-moving consumer goods, premium beverages, and luxury brands to strengthen Coca-Cola’s marketing capabilities in Nigeria as competition intensifies and consumer expectations continue to evolve.

Altogether, the leadership transition reflects Coca-Cola’s commitment to rewarding proven performance, investing in home-grown expertise, and positioning experienced African executives to shape the company’s next phase of growth across the continent.

As the beverage giant continues to expand its portfolio and deepen market penetration, both executives are expected to play pivotal roles in advancing innovation, strengthening consumer relationships, and delivering sustainable business value across their respective markets.