As the African continent’s economies modernise and its consumers evolve, few companies are positioned as well to seize the opportunity quite like beverage giant, Diageo. Behind the scenes Diageo’s African growth is enabled by a robust supply chain transformation, being steered by the highly experienced Marisa Schoeman, VP of Planning & Logistics for Africa…
Diageo’s London HQ is something else. The softly lit and tastefully decorated Soho pile even has a beautiful – and highly subsidised – restaurant/bar nestled in the basement that outshines many of its neighbouring establishments in Central London. However, today’s meeting is centred around a very different territory to the bustling Carnaby Street outside. Africa.
Diageo plc is a British multinational alcoholic beverage company whose 30 malt distilleries in Scotland – that can only make Scotch whisky – are responsible for producing one in every three bottles of Scotch sold globally with over 100 brands, such as Johnnie Walker, J&B and Buchanan’s. Its leading brands outside whisky include Guinness, Smirnoff, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Gordon’s. Africa represents the drinks giant’s third-largest region globally – 9% of all Diageo net sales are generated on the continent – but it’s also arguably one of the most complex, according to Marisa Schoeman, Diageo’s VP of Planning & Logistics for Africa. “We operate 31 production lines across the continent,” she explains. “The terrain is fragmented, infrastructure is inconsistent and distances are long. It demands a unique supply chain design and so for example, we rely on third-party partnerships or distributor models in some African countries.”
A supply chain leader
Marisa Schoeman is a seasoned supply chain leader with more than two decades of experience shaping operations across Africa and beyond.
She has held senior leadership roles across several large multinational companies, building a track record of driving operational excellence, large-scale transformation, and sustainable business growth. Living and working across Africa and Europe, she has built deep international expertise and cultural agility while successfully leading large, diverse teams in dynamic markets.
Marisa began her supply chain career at ExxonMobil in England before moving back to South Africa into the automotive industry, where she gained extensive experience in managing complex operations. Since joining Diageo, she has played a pivotal role in shaping and executing the company’s supply chain strategy, leading high-impact initiatives that strengthen performance, efficiency, and resilience.
At Diageo, Marisa is responsible for directing the transformation of Diageo’s supply network operations in Africa, creating a simplified and integrated network designed to unlock agility, innovation, and long-term value…
