Michael Awanayah
Home address: United Kingdom
71 Allens Croft Road
Kings Heath
Birmingham, B14 6RL
michael.awanayah@gmail.com mob: +447894671345
SUMMARY
A strong, experienced, visionary and inspirational senior multi-skilled international business executive with global network.
Experience of working in diverse cultures in Africa and the UK in the fmcg and construction industries leading diverse high-
performing teams. Strategic and at the same time hands-on with high commercial and technical acumen. Track record of
managing successfully, many business transformational projects, implementation and sustenance of quality systems, ensuring lean,
agile, cost effective and customer focused organisations. Looking for a senior leadership position in an expanding and forward-
looking organisation where these skills can be demonstrated.
KEY SKILLS
• Strategic planning and effective implementation of strategic plans (making strategies work).
• Budget planning, control and business impact analysis, excellent analytical and problem solving skills.
• Project (portfolio, Program and full cycle)/Change management.
• Deployment and sustenance of world class/lean manufacturing.
• Implementation and sustenance of quality systems (ISO9002, 1SO14001, BS OHAS 18001).
• Interpersonal skills: strong interpersonal skills including coaching, mentoring, networking, influencing
• Vocational qualifications design, training, and certification.
• Key accounts management (establishing strong external relationship with industry and governments).
• Organisational design, recruitment, training, and development.
Career History
Mar2013- Date Lafarge Wapco (Lagos – Nigeria).
Lafarge Wapco is a 255M€ Ebitda business unit of Lafarge Africa plc.
General Manager – Business Transformation
An executive position. Strategic adviser to the leadership team on change initiatives, securing leadership
alignment on project design, creating visibility on progress and ensuring that all business unit change
initiatives get through to implementation and pragmatic execution. To ensure continuous improvement is
adopted as a way of life in Lafarge Wapco in driving business performance (cost optimisation, efficiency
improvement) and supporting business growth. Leading a portfolio of business transformational projects to
deliver strategic objectives. Develops a framework of key performance indicators at all levels of the
organisation that are monitored and tracked all year round. Corrective action is taken promptly when
required by effective engagement of all stakeholders.
Achievements
• Year end 2014 achieved double digit volume growth (11%) in a declining market (-3%).
• Led a right sizing program that delivered an agile, lean and flexible organisation. 80 roles (8%) managed out of the
business saving 2M€.
• To anchor above right sizing program. Led a business wide cost saving program that resulted in 114 initiatives or
opportunities with an annualised savings of 8.5M€.
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Nov2011-Mar13 Lafarge Wapco (Lagos – Nigeria).
Lafarge Wapco is a 255M€ Ebitda business unit of Lafarge Africa plc.
Industrial Projects Manager.
Recruited to manage a portfolio of industrial projects focused on delivery in key areas of plant performance,
people, cost and safety.
Achievements
• Restructured and developed the project team to ensure the project team had the capability to deliver projects on time,
quality and to budget consistently.
• Over 30 projects were being executed concurrently to no effective delivery or closure. Liaised with stakeholders and
streamline/prioritised to 12 projects. Led and effectively delivered a portfolio of the 12 industrial projects.
Demonstrated stakeholder management, planning, control, communication and negotiation skills in the process.
July2008-October2011 Jesmax Ltd, United Kingdom
A management consultancy company involved in process optimisation, training and development
Director/consultant
Lead consultant involved in designing, vocational training, assessment and certification.
Achievements
• Designed and implemented new NVQ programmes for clients.
• Assessed and certified engineers on these programmes.
Sept2007-June2008 Dry Lube Ltd, United Kingdom
A company specialised in dry lubrication systems for the dairy, bottled water industry.
Operations Manager
Key accounts management:
Led a team of time-served service engineers, building excellent customer relationships with third parties
(customers and distributors) in UK, Ireland and Europe delivering effective and professional technical
service support.
Also responsible for designing, installing and commissioning dry lubrication conveyor systems in these
territories.
Achievements
• Streamlined and categorised customers enabling better customer service and 10% reduction in service cost.
• Grew market share of dry lubrication in the UK from 10% to 15% in 2008.
• Due to experience and contacts in the Brewing industry succeeded in penetrating the brewing industry with dry
lubrication products
• Implemented and sustained ISO9002, ISOO4001,ISO 18001.
.
June2006-Aug2007 Jesmax Ltd, United Kingdom
A management consultancy company involved in process optimisation, training and development
Director/consultant
Lead consultant involved in designing, vocational training, assessment and certification.
Achievements
• Designed and implemented new NVQ programmes for clients.
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• Assessed and certified engineers on these programmes.
Dec2005 – May2006 Capital RH, Douala - Cameroon
A recruitment agency specialised in senior recruitment in Cameroon
HR Consultant
Consultant hired for a short term assignment to fill key executive roles for a client of Capital RH.
Achievements
• Due to extensive contacts and experience in Cameroon succeeded in filling 20 key executive positions within 6 months.
Feb2004 – Nov2005 Diageo- Douala –Cameroon
Diageo Cameroun a £25m annual turnover company with 800 employees and annual brewing
capacity of 800,000 hl.
Head of Organisation and People Development
An executive position. Appointed to management and deliver on the strategic organisation and people
development agenda of the company.
Achievements
• Restructured the HR department implementing a new HR model with partnerships to ensure better customer service.
• Designed and implemented a new graduating scheme to fill the talent pipeline.
• Reviewed and enhanced skills to deliver the aggressive business objectives.
• Delivered on succession and retention plans.
Aug2003 - Jan2004: DIAGEO PLC, London –United Kingdom
Diageo is a world leader in manufacturer and commercialisation of premium drinks like
Guinness and John Walker with a global presence in 180 countries and a workforce of 28000
worldwide.
HR Projects Manager-Africa
.Transition role from operations to HR. Appointed because of production/manufacturing background to
develop and implement projects in Africa to build capability, talent and organisational effectiveness.
Achievements
• Smooth transition to HR demonstrating quick learning ability
• Developed a pan-African graduate scheme framework.
Apr2000 – Jul2003: Diageo/NIGERIA PLC
Diageo Nigeria plc is a company with £100m annual turnover with total workforce of 1500.
Operations Manager/ Sites’ Manager
Overall site manager of two plants (Ikeja and Ogba) with a capacity of 1.4mhl and workforce of 500.
• Initially appointed as Production Manager gaining rapid promotion after only 6 months to Operations Manager.
• Led and managed 2 fmcg manufacturing sites, P&L responsibility for £30m employing 500 people on a 24/7 basis with
complete responsibility for managing, controlling all aspects of engineering, production, quality, supply chain in a high
volume environment with a range of products. To meet consistently increasing sales demands, initiated and managed a
project to increase the capacity of the plant and introduced automated high speed bottling lines. With a budget of £4M,
established a project team and recruited and trained 18 highly skilled personnel to operate the new plant. Resulted in 20%
reduction in headcount and plant efficiency improving from 48% to 65% ensuring profits of £5m.
• Managed the site to ensure all plans (daily, weekly, monthly and yearly ) in terms of quality, cost, volumes, safety, health and
environment .were met and any deviations from plan were promptly resolved in consultation with stakeholders. Was able to
ensure no products were out of specification for over 2.5 years.
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• Introduced world class manufacturing initiatives within the brewery ensuring effective and efficient service delivery to other
functions. Demonstrated strong leadership skills in getting employees to accept major changes and ensured projects
completed on time and within budget. Continuous improvement now a way of life in both plants.
Jan1985 - Mar2000: Diageo/Cameroon
Diageo/Cameroon is a company with £25m annual turnover with 800 employees and a
brewery of 800 000 hl capacity.
Production/Utilities Manager
• Initially appointed as a maintenance engineer, later gaining promotions to Senior Engineer and
eventually Production/Utilities Manager. Responsible for the manufacture of all brands in the local
and export markets from raw material to finished product. Audited and managed the brewery to
ensure strict compliance with company's policies and statutory obligations such as health, safety and
the environment.
Achievements
• As engineer for seven years, led major capacity expansion projects in utilities including boilers, CO2 and refrigeration
from 600 to 800khl. Demonstrated excellent project management skills by scoping, executing, commissioned, new
production lines, to meet the business growth agenda within budget and schedule.
• In production function for 8 years, managed the department to meet all plans (daily, weekly, monthly and yearly) in
terms of quality, cost, volumes, safety, health and environment.
• Supported by other functions e.g. marketing, sales, led the development of new brands to optimise the increased
capacity. Product range increased from 2 to 5 in 8 years.
• Implemented capability build programmes, to ensure talented and competent resources available to deliver and sustain
growth agenda.
• Implemented and sustained world class manufacturing in the brewing/production section. Based on the success of
world class/lean manufacturing in Cameroon was seconded to Diageo-Nigeria operations to replicate this success.
ACADEMIC / PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS & DEVELOPMENT
• MBA (specialism in strategic planning with distinction): Edinburgh Business School: University of Heriot-Watt.
• MSc – Mechanical Engineering (Refrigeration and Air Conditioning): University of London: King’s college.
• BEng (Hon’s 2:1) - Mechanical Engineering with Management: University of Liverpool
• Chartered Engineer (CEng) - Institution of Mechanical Engineers UK (ImechE)
• Lead NVQ Internal Verifier: Level 4 ( highest qualification in vocational training and certification)
• PGCE: University of Wolverhampton (post graduate certificate in education).
• IT Skills: All advanced/expert level
o Microsoft office: Excel. Word, PowerPoint, and Microsoft project.
PERSONAL INFORMATION
• Nationalities : British
• Married with 3 dependent children
• Interests - football, squash, tennis, reading, writing, photography and the professional development of people.
• Languages - French and English (fluent)
• Excellent references available on request.
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