A statement issued in Accra on Monday, said her appointment takes effect from August 2018, and she would be based in Accra, and be responsible for Nestlé’s businesses in Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone under the Central and West Africa Region of the Company.

It said this followed the recent appointment of Mrs Freda Duplan, the outgoing Managing Director, who has been promoted as the Market Head of Nestlé Pakistan, and was the First African Female to achieve this rank within the world’s largest Food and Beverage Company.

The statement said, she brings to Ghana a wealth of experience having worked for over 20 years in Nestlé, beginning her career with Nestlé Malaysia in 1997 as a Market Research Executive.

It said from 1999 to 2009, she took on roles of increasing responsibility in Malaysia’s Ice Cream Business, before joining the MILO Business Unit as the Consumer Marketing Manager.

She was then promoted in 2011 to the Business Executive Officer for Chilled Dairy after which she was appointed Business Executive Officer for MILO, the largest Nestlé business in Malaysia and Singapore in terms of sales and profit.

Mrs Tan becomes the second Female Managing Director in the history of Nestlé Coastal Cluster (Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone), and her appointment formed part of the Nestlé’s Global commitment to diversity and inclusiveness, and the enhancement of gender balance in its workforce and empowerment of women across the entire value chain.

Remy Ejel, the Market Head of Nestlé Central and West Africa, said “Philomena is an incredible Business Executive. Since the start of her career in Nestlé, she has demonstrated leadership, professionalism, and a drive for success at the highest level. Her knack for excellence and approach to challenges undoubtedly makes her suitable for this role”.

Dr John Kwaku Asamoah, the Board Chairman of Nestlé Ghana and Managing Director of the National Investment Bank (NIB), congratulated and welcomed Mrs Tan to her new role, saying the company looked forward to working with her as a team to continue contributing to economic development.

Commenting on her appointment, Mrs Tan said she felt honoured to be appointed for this role, which she considered as a new challenge and an opportunity to learn more about the rich culture of the continent, and to work with the team to continue building the over 60 years’ legacy of Nestlé in Nutrition Health and Wellness in Ghana.