Business
Heineken to cut global workforce by 6,000 as beer demands falter
There are fears that Nigeria would be impacted as the company revealed that the cuts would be focused on non-priority markets offering fewer growth prospects.
• Heineken
Global brewer, Heineken, yesterday, said it would retrench 6,000 staff out of its 87,000 global workforce this year as it grapples with weak demand and rising costs.
The second biggest brewer by market value has promised to deliver higher growth with less resources as it looks to assuage investors who said it has fallen behind on efficiency.
This is coming right after the surprise January resignation of its current Chief Executive Officer, Dolf van den Brink, leaving the company scrambling for a new CEO.Also, sales across the sector are faltering amid strained consumer finances, geopolitical turbulence and bad weather.
The company said this productivity drive will unlock savings and reduce its global head count by 5,000 to 6,000 positions over the next two years, roughly seven percent of its global workforce of 87,000 people.
The company’s head of finance, Harold van den Broek, added that they are doing this to strengthen operations and to be able to invest in growth.
There are fears that Nigeria would be impacted as the company revealed that the cuts would be focused on non-priority markets offering fewer growth prospects.
He added that further cuts would also result from previously announced initiatives targeting Heineken’s supply network, head office and regional business units.
Outgoing-CEO van den Brink, who steps down in May, said that there was no update on the brewer’s search for a successor.
Along with weak demand, brewers are facing long-term declines in beer sales in some key markets, dented by issues such concerns over the health impact of alcohol consumption.
Heineken expects slower profit growth for 2026 of between 2 and 6 per cent against the 4 to 8 per cent growth it guided for last year.
Business
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Business
Airtel launches data calculator to counter depletion complaints
Commenting on the significance of the launch, Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, said that the company remains focused on building a network and customer experience ecosystem anchored on trust, transparency and continuous improvement.
Airtel Nigeria has launched the Airtel Web Data Calculator, a new digital tool designed to help customers estimate and better understand their internet data consumption based on real-life usage patterns.
Available through Airtel’s website, the calculator enables customers to estimate data usage across common digital activities such as video streaming, social media engagement, voice and video calls, and everyday web browsing.
Speaking on the launch, Oladokun Oye, Customer Experience Director, Airtel Nigeria, said that the initiative reflects Airtel’s commitment to customer empowerment and service transparency.
“As Nigerians become increasingly dependent on digital services for work, education, entertainment and communication, it is important that customers have clear visibility into how their data is consumed.
The Airtel Web Data Calculator was developed to help our customers understand their usage patterns better, make informed choices, and enjoy greater confidence in their digital experience,” he said.
Commenting on the significance of the launch, Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, said the company remains focused on building a network and customer experience ecosystem anchored on trust, transparency and continuous improvement.
“The future of telecommunications will be defined not only by network investments but also by how effectively operators help customers understand and manage their digital lives. The Airtel Web Data Calculator represents a practical innovation that places more information and control directly in the hands of our customers.” He said.
Business
Kingsley Moghalu chairs Bluecode Africa subsidiary in Nigeria
Moghalu served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, heading the Financial System Stability and Operations Directorates at different periods.
Bluecode Africa, the European payments infrastructure operator backed by leading US and European institutional investors, has named Prof Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu as Chairman of the Advisory Board of its Nigerian subsidiary, Bluecode Payments Nigeria Limited as the company formally enters the Nigerian market.
The appointment was jointly announced by Chris Pirkner, Founder of Bluecode, and Odin Krismayr, Managing Director of Bluecode Africa, who described it as a foundational governance decision for the company’s Nigerian and continental operations.
Moghalu served as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria from 2009 to 2014, heading the Financial System Stability and Operations Directorates at different periods.
He led the team that introduced the unique-identifier Bank Verification Number (BVN), enrolling 50 million banking users, simplifying Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, and doubled Nigeria’s financial inclusion rate from 33 to 60 per cent.
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