Omokehinde Thomas has been appointed Marketing Manager for the Energy and Hydration portfolio at Seven Up Bottling Company, thereby marking a significant career transition from digital marketing specialist to full spectrum marketing leadership; consequently, the move reflects both deliberate professional growth and expanding executive responsibility.

The appointment, which took effect four months ago, represents a strategic elevation within the consumer soft drinks giant, where Thomas now oversees brands in the energy and hydration categories, while simultaneously managing both strategic direction and commercial outcomes.

Announcing her new role on LinkedIn, Thomas reflected on the transformative nature of her career evolution. “Four months. A new mandate.

A broader lens. I’ve been relatively quiet here over the past few months; largely because I stepped into a new role as Marketing Manager overseeing the Energy and Hydration portfolio,” she stated.

From Digital to Full Spectrum Marketing Leadership

Thomas described the transition as both clarifying and transformative, and importantly, she highlighted the fundamental difference between her previous digital marketing focus and her current comprehensive marketing leadership responsibilities.

“Transitioning from Digital Marketing into full spectrum marketing leadership has been both clarifying and transformative. Digital marketing trains you to optimise, full marketing leadership requires you to orchestrate,” she explained.

The most significant shift, according to Thomas, has been moving from campaign thinking to commercial thinking; therefore, the evolution has deepened her understanding of broader business impact.

“The most significant shift has been moving from campaign thinking to commercial thinking; understanding how brand decisions influence margin, perception, scale, and long term competitive advantage,” she noted.

She emphasized a core philosophy that has guided her approach in the new role and continues to shape her leadership outlook. “It has reinforced a core belief: Marketing is not a communications function. It is a growth function,” Thomas stated.

Expressing gratitude for the opportunity, she added, “Grateful for the stretch, the responsibility, and the opportunity to build brands with both discipline and ambition. Onward.”

Career Journey and Professional Background

Thomas joined Seven Up Bottling Company in October 2023 as Digital Marketing Lead, thus transitioning from the agency to the client side of the business.

Her appointment at the time followed her exit from Noah’s Ark Communications Group, where she had served as Deputy Business Director for The RedWolf Company, the group’s digital media agency.

Before her elevation to Deputy Business Director, Thomas spent over two years at Noah’s Ark Communications as Account Lead, and notably, she was instrumental in evolving the digital department into a full fledged agency. At the group level, she rose steadily in rank over a four year period to the position of Account Lead, Digital.

Prior to Noah’s Ark Communications, Thomas worked as an Online Executive at Novelpotta Y&R. Her professional journey commenced at Royal Mark, a PR consulting firm where she started as an Administrator.

She later moved to Deefrent as a Business Development Executive, and subsequently worked briefly as a Personal Assistant at The Harvest Place.

With over 15 years of experience, Thomas has built cross industry expertise spanning Pay TV, Telco, technology, NGO and government, FMCG and financial sectors. Over time, she has worked on campaigns for major brands including Airtel, Three Crowns Milk, Nokia, Maltina, GOtv, Maggi, and Payattitude.

Educational Qualifications and Professional Recognition

Thomas holds a Master’s degree in Marketing and Communications from Rome Business School, Nigeria, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Covenant University. She is also a DMI certified professional.

Her contributions to Nigeria’s digital marketing landscape have earned her industry recognition. In 2023, Thomas was among 25 digital marketing professionals honored at the ADMARP Awards, which celebrated exceptional digital marketers for their outstanding achievements and contributions to the industry.

She was recognized as Digital Marketing Manager at Seven Up Bottling Company during the ceremony held at the ADMARP Day 2023 event on November 9, 2023.

Thomas was also featured among the Top Digital Marketing Personalities in Nigeria in 2022, where she was described as a digital marketing communications professional specializing in brand management, client servicing, business operations, strategy and content creation.