Diageo in Cameroon traces its roots to 1967, when Guinness Cameroon was created and opened its first depot in Limbe. Two years later the company built a brewery in Douala, achieving significant production by 1970. Following the 1997 merger between Guinness and IDV, the company became a subsidiary of Diageo, turning into a regional leader in premium beverages.

Today Cameroon is the fifth largest Guinness market in the world, with a headcount of around 430 employees and a network of 29 distributors scattered around the country. At the heart of this large – scale operation is ‘brilliant legal manager’ Sandie Paho Handou, who according to sources ‘knows how to optimize the interests of her company and increase its yield’. With demonstrated skills in conducting negotiations, overseeing complex projects and assisting with long-term strategic planning, Handou supports the company business across 22 countries in West and Central Africa and has been involved in a number of internal company initiatives.

Over the last five years and a half in the role of legal director and company secretary, Handou has reformed the legal department, streamlining processes and procedures and forming synergies with other business units. Handou formerly served as a commercial legal counsel at Diageo Guinness Cameroon, supporting sales, marketing, the supply chain, HR and procurement, quickly receiving a promotion to her present role. Prior to her career at Diageo, Handou served as a legal counsel focusing on the EMEA region at the Newcastle upon Tyne office of Procter & Gamble.