Dangote Group, led by Africa's richest man Aliko Dangote, has assembled a leadership team of experienced industrial executives, international specialists, and family members to oversee its expanding business empire. With interests spanning cement, petroleum refining, fertiliser, sugar, salt, and logistics, the conglomerate is pursuing an ambitious plan to become a $100 billion enterprise by 2030.
Leadership Changes and Family Appointments
The conglomerate's leadership underwent significant changes in February 2026 when Dangote appointed his three daughters to expanded executive positions, giving them responsibility for major commercial operations and international activities, according to BusinessDay reports. These appointments reflect a strategic blend of professional management and family governance as the group diversifies.
Here are ten prominent executives running different parts of the Dangote conglomerate, including the founder.
Aliko Dangote and Group Vice President Olakunle Alake
Aliko Dangote remains the founder, president, and chief executive of Dangote Group. He began his business career in 1978, trading rice, sugar, and cement before expanding into manufacturing. Today, he oversees the conglomerate's overall strategy, major investments, and international expansion. His latest ambitions include expanding the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to 1.4 million barrels per day by 2029 through a proposed $14.3 billion investment.
Olakunle Alake serves as group vice president, overseeing Dangote Industries' businesses outside the oil and gas division. Since joining the conglomerate in 1990, he has held several senior positions, including chief operating officer and group managing director. His responsibilities span established manufacturing businesses, providing management continuity as Dangote expands into new industries.
Oil and Gas Leadership: Devakumar Edwin and Fatima Dangote
Devakumar Edwin is vice president of oil and gas, overseeing the group's refinery, fertiliser, petrochemical, and upstream petroleum businesses. The Indian-born engineer joined Dangote in 1992 and previously served as managing director of Obajana Cement and group managing director of Dangote Cement. His experience in industrial project development places him at the centre of the conglomerate's energy expansion.
Fatima Dangote serves as executive director of oil and gas, overseeing commercial operations across the group's energy businesses, including the refinery, fertiliser, and upstream petroleum operations. She previously served as executive director, commercial, at NASCON Allied Industries. Her responsibilities also include branding, corporate communications, strategic procurement, and administration, placing her in a central commercial role as the energy business expands.
Mariya Dangote, Halima Dangote, and Refinery CEO David Bird
Mariya Dangote leads commercial operations across the group's cement and food businesses as executive director. She previously worked in group strategy and risk management and held operational responsibilities at Dangote Sugar. Her February 2026 appointment expanded her role across two major divisions, and she also serves on the boards of Dangote Cement and Dangote Sugar.
Halima Dangote oversees the Dangote Family Office and the conglomerate's international offices in Dubai and London as executive director of international operations. She previously served as an executive director at Dangote Flour Mills, where she participated in the company's turnaround and subsequent sale. Her expanded responsibilities reflect the conglomerate's growing international activities and efforts to strengthen family-office governance.
David Bird manages the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, one of Africa's largest industrial investments. The former Shell executive previously headed OQ8, a major refinery in Oman. He is responsible for refinery operations, production performance, and expansion. In September 2026, Bird outlined plans to double the refinery's processing capacity to 1.4 million barrels daily by 2029, according to a Nairmetrics report.
Cement, Sugar, and Logistics Executives
Arvind Pathak is group managing director and chief executive of Dangote Cement. He oversees cement production, distribution, and commercial performance across the company's African operations. His responsibilities include managing manufacturing costs, expanding market access, and coordinating operations across the company's Nigerian and other African businesses.
Thabo Mabe heads Dangote Sugar Refinery. He joined the conglomerate in 2014 as managing director of Dangote Flour Mills and subsequently managed Dangote Rice and NASCON Allied Industries. His current responsibilities include sugar refining and the company's backwards-integration programme, aimed at increasing domestic sugar production and reducing dependence on imported raw materials.
Abdu Dantata oversees logistics and distribution across the conglomerate as executive director. A longstanding executive, he previously served as executive director of sales and marketing. He coordinates the distribution and marketing of products manufactured or imported by the group, helping connect its industrial operations with customers across Nigeria.
Future Expansion Plans
Together, these executives illustrate Dangote Group's evolving management structure, combining the founder's strategic leadership with professional management and expanded responsibilities for the next generation. Legit.ng earlier reported that Aliko Dangote is preparing another major expansion of his business empire, with plans spanning electricity, petroleum pipelines, and shipping. The new ventures come after the Nigerian billionaire previously exited or shut down businesses in sectors including textiles, flour, banking, telecommunications, aviation, and tomato processing.
