International Breweries Plc has appointed Nicholas Kade as its new Managing Director, effective 1 March 2026, following the transition of Carlos Coutino to a leadership role at parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev.
In a statement on Tuesday, IBPLC said Coutino, who has served as Managing Director and Business Unit President since January 2023, will assume the role of Managing Director for Honduras and El Salvador within the AB InBev group. Coutino joined IBPLC in 2018 as National Sales/Trade Marketing Director and rapidly rose through the commercial function, playing a critical role in guiding the company through pivotal periods.
Under his leadership, IBPLC achieved its highest-ever sales volume and market share and returned to profitability after six years of restructuring. He also recorded the highest employee engagement score in the country, reflecting a leadership style rooted in inclusion, trust, and performance.
Beyond commercial achievements, Coutino led the reshaping of AB InBev’s digital landscape in Nigeria, championing a best-in-class digital product developed with local talent, which has since been scaled across six countries.
The Board and Management of IBPLC expressed appreciation to Coutino for his outstanding performance and wished him success in his new role.
Kade, who previously served as IBPLC’s Sales Director, is a senior commercial leader with over 15 years of experience driving growth and transformation across Africa. He oversaw national sales strategy, commercial execution, and performance delivery in Nigeria. He joined AB InBev through a highly competitive graduate management trainee programme, providing a strong foundation in end-to-end commercial leadership.
Kade has held multiple commercial director roles in South Africa, managing sales strategy, revenue growth, route-to-market execution, and leadership of large, diverse teams across regions. He has a strong record in customer experience transformation, business enablement implementation, and delivering sustainable commercial results.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in business management, an honours degree in business management, and a master of commerce (with distinction) from Stellenbosch University, complemented by a postgraduate programme in business from GIBS Business School, University of Pretoria.
IBPLC, part of AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer with over 500 brands, including Trophy Lager, Hero Lager, Castle Lite, and Budweiser, said Kade’s appointment reflects the company’s commitment to driving growth.
