Directors & Officers
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mr. Jean Van Gysel (Belgian) Chairman, Non-Executive Director
Mr. Dirk Arthur G. Lambrecht (Belgian) Non-Executive Director
Mr. Felix O. Nwabuko Managing Director/CEO
Chief James B. Erhuero JP mni, OON Non-Executive Director
Mr. Osa Osunde Ind. Non-Executive Director
Chief (Dr.) Bassey E.O. Edem, MFR Ind. Non-Executive Director
HRH Prince Aiguobasinmwin O. Akenzua Ind. Non-Executive Director
Amb. Nonye Udo Ind. Non-Executive Director
Mrs. Ingrid Vandewiele (Belgian) Non-Executive Director
Mr. Jan Van Eykeren (Dutch) Non-Executive Director
Mr. Sam Sabbe (Belgian) Non-Executive Director
BRIEF PROFILES OF DIRECTORS
Mr. Jean Van Gysel
Mr. Jean Van Gysel bagged among others an MSc in Agriculture in 1976 from Faculte des Sciences Agronomiques de Gembloux and Master of Science of Management in 1994 from Boston University, Brussels. He speaks over six languages including French and English. Presently he is an independent expert and a Director on the Board of Directors of Fimave (SIAT Group’s majority shareholder) with years within the firm. Other key qualifications include General management: macro and micro economic studies, food processing, project cycle, project management, information systems for the food industry and estate management. From 2009 to date, Mr. Jean Van Gysel acquired experience in various companies in various countries as a team leader, IT developer, Operations Manager, General Manager, Managing Director, Technical Expert and Consultant in various fields. He joined Presco Plc as a non-executive director in September 2022.
Felix Onwuchekwa Nwabuko
Mr. Felix Onwuchekwa Nwabuko is a Chartered Accountant and award-winning business leader with multi sector experience in agriculture, manufacturing, consultancy and education sectors. He has special interest in strategy, corporate governance, and leadership. A Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Associate of Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria, Alumni of Manchester Business School, United Kingdom (MBA 2008) and University of Benin, Nigeria (MBA 1991), and member of the Institute of Directors in the United Kingdom.
Career experience of ten years of professional practice at KPMG, twenty-six years’ expert management of large-scale industrial oil palm plantations and processing enterprises in the Nigerian and Ghanaian oil palm and vegetable oil industry and seven years of project finance management in the United Kingdom. Currently Managing Director of SIAT Group of Belgium; as Managing Director of Presco Plc and Siat Nigeria Limited. Previous roles include Ag. Managing Director, Ghana Oil Palm Development Company Limited (GOPDC), Chief Financial Officer, GOPDC, Finance Manager at University College London, Director Finance & Corporate Affairs, Presco Plc and Finance Controller, Okomu Oil Palm Plc. Member of the Executive Management Committee of SIAT Group, Brussels (2020-2021). Professional recognitions include “Pearl Outstanding CEO of The Year Award”, “Nigeria Agriculture Award Achiever in Agriculture Award”, and the prestigious “ICAN Merit Award” by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria awarded to Presco Plc under my leadership as Managing Director/CEO.
Dirk Lambrecht
Mr. Dirk Lambrecht is a lawyer registered with the Brussel Bar in 2001 and the Managing Partner of Praxiislaw Law Firm in Belgium where he has been a partner since 2012. He studied Law at Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium where he obtained 1st Licentiate Law in 1999, 2nd Licentiate Law in 2000 and 3rd Licentiate Law in 2001. Dirk Lambrecht is specialized and practices real estate law, tenancy law, commercial law, banking law and civil law. His experience includes internship at Deloitte Touche (Tax & Legal, European Law) in 2000, internship at Vergels Advocaten (2001 – 2004), First Directive-assistant to the President of the Committee of Justice in the Senate (2006 – 2007) and Partner/Managing Partner at Praxislaw Law Firm (2012 to date). He is Deputy Director of the Trainee School at the Dutch Bar Association, Brussels (2005 – 2015), Chairman of the Flemish Pleading Association at the Bar of Brussel (2008 – 2009), Vice Chairman of the Internship Committee at the Dutch Bar Association Brussels (2009 – 2010), Member of the Council of the Dutch Order of Lawyers Brussels (2009 – 2012) and Member of the General Assembly of the Order of Flemish Bars (2010 – 2013).
Ingrid Vandewiele
Mrs. Ingrid Vandewiele was appointed as non-executive director (NED) of Presco PLC on May 22, 2020. For 16 years, she worked in Financial Management with the Siat Group, Belgium. She has contributed to more consistent and drill down accounting by standardization and automatization. Her core skills include commercial finance in international environment, cash management, operational efficiency and analyst. Prior to her appointment as non-executive director of Presco Plc, she acquired professional experience in (1), SIAT N.V., a Belgium agro-industrial company, operational in West Africa, China, USA and Cambodia in the oil palm, rubber and ornamental sector as Group Chief Financial Officer; (2) IMPERBEL N.V., Belgium; producer of bituminous, water proofing products mainly for flat roofs; such as membranes (“DERBIGUM”) and cold adhesives as an Assistant – Cost controller as CEO Assistant – Cost Controller; (3) SKF International S.A., Brussels – Headquarters of Middle East and Africa area as Credit Controller, Overall Accountant Finance Department, and as Assistant Logistics Manager. Her education includes High School at Tend Doorinstituut in Eeklo – majoring in Classic language (Latin) and Mathematics; Masters in Sovonic Philology Rijksunirversiteit Gent – Belgium (1988) and Post University Diploma in Business Management VUB (1990) – Belgium.
Chief (Engr.) James B. Erhuero JP mni OON
Chief (Engr.) J.B. Erhuero joined the Board of Presco PLC on 15th July 2004. He was one-time Secretary to the Delta State Government where he previously served as Head of Service. Before he became the Head of Service to the Delta State Government, he was a Permanent Secretary in the defunct Bendel State and Delta State Civil Service in the Ministries of Com & Industry, Finance & Economic Planning & Works & Transport. Engr. Erhuero holds a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering and an MBA from University of Benin. He also holds a certificate in Industrial Projects’ Appraisal from the University of Bradford, UK. James is a member of the Nigeria Institute of Policy Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Management, and once a member of the Governing Council of the Institute from 2009 – 2013. He is a Knight of St. Mulumba (KSM).
HRH Prince Aiguobasinmwin Ogie Akenzua
HRH Prince Aiguobasinmwin Ogie Akenzua was appointed a Director of Presco Plc on April 16th, 2015. He holds a BSc in Computer Science and Information Technology (2005), Igbinedion University, Okada and MPA, University of Benin, Benin City. He is Enogie of Siluko. He served as Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Edo State on Youth and Special Interests from 2008 – 2012 and Special Adviser to the Executive Chairman of Ovia Southwest Local Government Area from 2007 to 2008.
Chief (Dr) Bassey Edem Orok Edem MFR
Chief Bassey Edem Orok Edem is an Administrator, Chartered Accountant and an Agri-Business magnate. He holds a Diploma in Accountancy from Yaba College of Technology, a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Accounting from University of Lagos, a Master of Business Administration (DBA) from the London Graduate School of Commonwealth University. He worked with the United Africa Company of Nigeria (UACN) PLC. In November 1979, he was transferred to Pamol (Nigeria) Limited where he was promoted Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer 1982 and appointed Vice Chairman, MD/CEO. He voluntarily retired in 2006. He was also an Executive Director of Dunlop Nigeria PLC (the parent company of Pamol Nigeria Limited). Chief Edem won the Unilever International Managing Director of the year award in 1988. He is a fellow of Chartered Association of Certified Accountants UK; Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators UK, Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and Alumnus of the Lagos Business School (CEP. 1994) and the past President of NACCIMA. He was appointed as a director of Presco PLC on December 6, 2013.
Amb. Nonye Udo
Ambassador Nonye Udo is an accomplished career diplomat who represented Nigeria admirably both at home and abroad. Her distinguished service to Nigeria in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earned her the 2017 Presidential Civil Service Merit Award. At the United Nations Headquarters, she was a well-respected expert member of the United Nations revered Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions, the ACABQ. As a female officer in a mostly male dominated field of diplomacy, Ambassador Udo was very sensitive to women empowerment, gender mainstreaming and mentoring of the underprivileged. This was a continuation of her work on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the United Nations as well as Nigeria’s expert to the Committee on Responsibility to Protect (R2P). As a further recognition of her expertise and dedication to service both to humanity in general and Nigeria in particular, she was nominated as served as the first Nigeria female Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium, Luxembourg and to the European Union Headquarters.
Osa Osunde
Osa Osunde is an Accountancy graduate and alumnus of Auchi Polytechnic with vast experience in Capital Market Operations, Banking and Financial Services. Mr. Osunde belongs to several professional bodies amongst which are Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and Member of Nigeria Institute of Management. As part of his early working experience, he was Head of Stockbroking with Wintrust Limited, one of the early stockbroking firms in Nigeria based in Lagos before moving to Fidelity Finance Company Limited as the company’s pioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer soon after incorporation. He is a graduate of the prestigious New York Institute of Finance, New York, USA (1992) and has attended several local and international multi-disciplinary courses. A member of New York Stock Exchange, he is also an Authorized Dealer/Clerk of the Nigerian Exchange Limited and was one time a member of Council of The Exchange. He sits on the boards of many quoted and private limited liability companies. Mr. Osunde is currently the Executive Chairman of Fidelity Finance Company. He was appointed as a director of Presco PLC on May 7, 2003. He is widely travelled and happily married.
Mr. Jan Van Eykeren
Mr. Jan Van Eykeren was appointed as non-executive director (NED) of Presco PLC on September 26th, 2022. He holds a Masters in Tropical and Subtropical Agriculture (Engineer), and an Executive Master in Interim Management. He has a very long experience as General Manager in managing international agricultural companies in Africa and Europe. He has been active in many countries in Africa in large scale palm oil & rubber plantations and processing for over eighteen (18) years. Earlier in Cameroon in livestock feed mill industry, poultry parent stock farms and hatchery and in Europe in fruit production, international fruit trade and fruit grower cooperatives. He worked for own companies and for third parties. Company experience include in board meetings, Finance (P&L and Balance Sheet), budget, and cost control; land developments; agricultural department, road, and bridge constructions; technical: factories, industrial and vehicle workshops; procurement and warehouse management; human resources management, health, safety and environment (HSE), hospitals, schools, residences, and worker housing. Company sizes in value are ranging up to € 300 million and more.
Mr. Sam Sabbe
Mr. Sam Sabbe became CFO of SIAT Group in April 2015. He is a graduate of Law. He started his professional career in 1989 at Paribas Bank Belgium (now part of Belfius Bank) and fulfilled various banking functions such as Office Director Waregem and Regional Director Ghent. Gained wide experience in the field of Corporate Banking and Mergers and Acquisitions with Paribas Bank Belgium when the bank was Mandated Lead Arranger for the IPO of Omega Pharma in 1998. Subsequently transferred to Omega Pharma in September 1999 as Chief Financial Officer and member of the Executive Committee, in which capacity, was instrumental in setting-up the financial structure and taking a leading role in over 80 M&A transactions for the group throughout its rapid expansion in the period 2000-2007 and was elected as executive member of the Board of Directors since June 2001. Major acquisitions included Pharmygiène France (2000), Chefaro Europe (2000), 60 OTC brands from Pfizer (2004), Wartner Europe (2004), Bittner. As Executive Vice President, was in 2007 responsible for the carve-out and IPO of Arseus, Omega Pharma’s former Business-to-Business division.
Became CFO of Ecuphar (products and services for veterinarians and animal owners) in October 2007 and subsequently Chief Strategy Officer at Omega Pharma from 2008 to 2012, in which capacity he was responsible for M&A, Legal department, Human Resources, Public Relations and Investor Relations. Moved to Senior Assist, a privately owned company active in the elderly care homes market in Belgium and abroad, first as CFO and from January 2013 until 2015 as CEO. In October 2015 he became financial advisor to Bremhove NV, holding company of the Joris IDE family with diversified business activities in international industrial activities, luxury goods, real estate development, asset management and M&A activities.
In September 2016 he became CFO at BekaertDeslee Group with headquarters in Waregem. BekaertDeslee and a world leader in mattress fabrics with 19 production facilities in each continent of the world. In April 2019 he was appointed as CFO of EnergyVision Group, a company active in renewable energy, mostly solar panel installations in Belgium, Morocco, and China.
He also is member of the Board of Club Bruges, the Belgian premier league soccer team and also a Judge in Commercial Matters at the Court of Ghent.