New Era Begins as Sari El-Khalil Assumes Leadership at Seven-Up Bottling Company

Sari El-Khalil, a Board Member and former Chief Transformation Officer of Seven-Up Bottling Company Ltd. (SBC), has officially assumed the role of Managing Director, ushering in a new era of leadership at one of Nigeria’s leading beverage producers.

His appointment is effective July 1, 2025, following the retirement of Ziad Maalouf, who served as Managing Director for nearly 18 years.

Ziad Maalouf’s tenure is widely recognized for expanding SBC’s market presence, enhancing operational efficiency, and driving innovation across its product lines. Under his leadership, SBC reinforced its reputation as a household name in Nigeria, implementing numerous initiatives that modernized its operations and extended its market reach.

Succeeding him, Sari El-Khalil offers a blend of deep local insight and global experience. Raised in Nigeria, he completed his early education locally before pursuing higher education and an international career.

He began his professional journey at SBC, where he held leadership roles in sales, operations, and finance. After earning an MBA from NYU Stern and gaining experience with PepsiCo in the United States, he returned to Nigeria to lead SBC’s financial planning efforts and later became its first Chief Transformation Officer. In that capacity, he spearheaded a strategic transformation focused on digitization, automation, and enterprise agility.

According to the company, Sari’s appointment is part of its ongoing commitment to cultivating visionary leadership and advancing its innovation and sustainability goals.

As SBC begins this new chapter, industry observers expect the incoming Managing Director to build on the solid foundation laid by his predecessor, driving continued growth and impact both within Nigeria and across regional markets.