Coca-Cola Beverages Africa backs small business owners for growth

Windhoek, Namibia  – With the support of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa (CCBA), more than 260 small business owners in Namibia have successfully completed training in essential financial management skills aimed at sustaining their businesses and supporting their families. 

The training focused on building capacity among small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs), covering key topics such as cash flow management, business budgeting, and record-keeping. Among the participants were 145 women entrepreneurs, 96 youth, and 26 individuals living with disabilities. 

Facilitating the workshop was the Central Commerce Group — an advisory and talent management organisation devoted to advancing entrepreneurship, innovation, and economic empowerment. With extensive experience working alongside grassroots entrepreneurs, the group delivers impact through its flagship Youth Capacity Building Programme Initiative. 

“At CCBA in Namibia, we focus on making a real impact in the communities where we operate, as part of our broader sustainability strategy,” said Ockert Jansen, Public Affairs, Communication and Sustainability Director for CCBA in Namibia. Our efforts align closely with Namibia’s National Development Plans and the government’s key priorities, including youth empowerment.”  

“Our sustainability efforts are guided by three main pillars: water replenishment, packaging, and social impact,” Jansen added. 

All participants are connected to the CCBA value chain, reinforcing the company’s commitment to inclusive growth. CCBA’s business is centred on a local approach – producing locally, distributing locally and where possible, sourcing locally. The company aims to build a better shared future.  

CCBA is a customer-focused, digitally enabled, growth-driven business that strives for excellence across the value chain and partners with customers for growth. 

“For CCBA, partnering with our customers means understanding and prioritising the needs of retailers and consumers by delivering value beyond just selling beverages,” said Jansen. “This capacity-driven impact project aligns with CCBA’s vision of being the most consumer-centric and customer-driven beverage company in Africa. 

“It’s also about delivering value beyond the product by providing best-in-class service to retail partners and helping customers to grow their businesses through insights, promotions, and tailored support. For us, this is customer focus in action,” Jansen said. 

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Frank O’Donnell

Chief Commercial and Customer Officer, CCBA

Frank leads CCBA’s commercial agenda, with responsibility for accelerating revenue growth, strengthening route to market and customer partnerships and driving execution excellence across markets.

Frank brings extensive international experience from Coca‑Cola HBC, where he held a range of senior commercial and general management roles. Most recently, he served as Region Director, overseeing 13 markets across Europe, where he led high-performing teams and delivered strong business results.

He is recognised for his strong commercial acumen, customer focus and track record in building high-performing teams across diverse markets.

Gerald Lewis

Chief Information Officer, CCBA

Gerald leads CCBA’s digital, data and technology agenda, focusing on enabling business performance through scalable platforms and enhanced digital capabilities.  Gerald brings extensive international experience, most recently as Head of Technology Strategy & Operations at Coca‑Cola HBC. He has also held senior CIO roles at Bacardi across Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as transformation roles at GlaxoSmithKline and Mettler Toledo. He is recognised for translating technology strategy into business value and for leading transformation across emerging markets.

Matthew Welz

General Counsel and Company Secretary, CCBA

Matthew joined us from the Clicks Group, a JSE Top-40 company, where he has been the Head of Legal and Company Secretary since 2016. In this role Matthew successfully navigated a highly regulated environment, including overseeing compliance with company laws and the JSE Listings Requirements. As company secretary, he managed governance at Board level as well as being the Chairman’s chief of staff. Prior to this, Matthew was a Legal Manager with Anglo American, a major multinational diversified mining group, which includes three companies listed on the JSE, with extensive operations across Southern Africa.

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