Serengeti Breweries lists successes as it bids Ocitti farewell

Dar es Salaam. Support extended by Serengeti Breweries Limited to farmers has created over 200,000 direct and indirect jobs in the country, according to outgoing managing director Mark Ocitti.

Mr Ocitti, who has been at the helm of the brewing company for three years, said during an event to bid him farewell in Dar es Salaam that SBL also contributes about Sh27 billion in taxes annually.

He said SBL was planning on increase enrollment of students from needy backgrounds studying agricultural diploma courses under its scholarship programme dubbed “Kilimo Viwanda”.

“During the past three years, the programme has benefited over 230 students,” said Mr Ocitti, who has been appointed by SBL parent company Diageo as the new head of Kenya Breweries Limited, an SBL sister company.

Investment, Industry and Trade deputy minister Exaud Kigahe graced the event, which was also attended by SBL board chairman John Ulanga and CEO Roundtable of Tanzania chairman David Tarimo, among other distinguished guests.

Mr Kigahe commended Mr Ocitti for his contribution to the growth of the industrial sector in Tanzania through his hard work, commitment and integrity.

“For the past three years that Mr Ocitti has been with us here in the country, he has demonstrated that he is a visionary leader, who strived to take SBL to greater heights and this applied to SBL as a company as well as SBL staff,” he said.

Mr Kigahe particularly hailed Mr Ocitti for overseeing implementation of the first ever production plant in Moshi which is an all-female run plant.

“It is my understanding that one of SBL’s pillars is inclusivity and diversity and Mr Ocitti has implemented this with utmost precision. For the first time in our country, we now have an all-female run plant, thanks to Mr Ocitti’s commitment to inclusivity.”

The deputy minister further commended the outgoing managing director for overseeing the launch of SBL’s expansion of its plant in Moshi, noting that it was through his leadership that the project was a success.

For his part, Mr Ulanga expressed his gratitude to Mr Ocitti on behalf of the board of directors, recalling his achievements at SBL in the three years he was at the helm.

“I can confidently say that he has registered many achievements for SBL from a business perspective and to the Tanzanian community through various community development projects he has championed, from water, education to farmer-centric empowerment projects,” Mr Ulanga said.

SBL also introduced its new managing director Obinna Anyalebechi, who is joining the company from Diageo London.