Mr Akin Magbagbeola
Director of Operations, Hotel Solutions Hospitality Nig. Ltd.
Akin Magbagbeola was born on the 1st of October 1963 in his hometown Ogbomoso in Oyo State. He is a graduate of Catering and Hotel Management from Ondo State Polytechnic, Owo. He also bagged the Professional Diploma in Management from Nigerian Institute of Management and later, MBA Marketing from Oyo State University of Science and Technology (now Ladoke Akintola University). During his Course of studies; he worked as Catering Officer with the Nigeria Police Force at Police Officers Central Mess and Guest House.
After Graduation he observed the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) at Shiroro Hotel, Minna in 1986 (which was under the Arewa Group of Hotels then) where he served in various capacities as Duty Manager, Personnel Manager and Food and Beverage Manager of the Hotel. After his Youth Service he was employed as General Manager of Fina Brown Motel, Ibadan in 1987.
Subsequently he started his full Management Career with UAC Nig. Plc in UAC Foods Division as one of the very foremost Mr. Biggs’s Managers in January, 1988.
Akin Magbagbeola as a young dynamic professional had series of appointments within UAC Foods – from Mr. Biggs’s Manager to Production Manager, Retail Sales Manager, Regional Sales Manager, National Logistics Manager and then later to Customer Services Inspectorate Manager.
In his bid to consolidate his academics-oriented work experience, he also attended extensive Unilever Management Training both in Nigeria and abroad and had varied exposure/experience in diverse Management Practices Spanning over 9 years.
In 1997, he joined Foremost Recreational Club in Nigeria Ikoyi Club 1938 as Deputy General Manager in charge of Operations where he revolutionized the entire Catering and Food and Beverage set up of the club and raised the services to international standards.
On invitation of the Board, in 1997, he joined UTC Nig Ltd primarily to rejuvenate and revive the Food Processing plant and Fast Food Business.
As a result of his exemplary achievement in UTC, he was recommended to take over the affairs of Sweet Sensation Confectionery as the General Manager. His enigmatic performance in transforming Sweet Sensation into a full Corporate Hospitality company is unrivalled up to date. As a result of his exceptional contribution to Sweet Sensation, he became the recipient of International Quality Era Award.
He singlehandedly won through his “SS” profile Presentation to International Business Initiative Group at the Hotelympia Exhibition at Earl’s Court in England, Jan 2002.
The award was received in Switzerland at IQ Convection 2002. As part of his international exposure, he had a brief stint with Heavy Kitchenware, Uk. Ltd as General Sales Manager. During which he worked closely with Giant Catering Establishment like Mono, Oddy, A&E Catering TomChandly, Parry, Marston House, British Youth Hostels, Grand Motel all in UK.
Akin also joined the workforce of Food Concepts and Entertainment Nig Ltd. in 2003, a Company that Manages Consortium of Foreign Brands i.e. St Elmo’s Pizza, Chicken Licken, Scoops etc) as General Manger- Operations.
During his tenure as GM Operations, in 2003/2004 he was instrumental to the development of the Core Intellectual Properties of Chicken Republic in South Africa. His contributions towards tropicalising South Africa Brands in Nigeria by working with Crown National, Spices International, Mac Adams, Rational etc are immeasurably indelible.
As an ambitious young man who loves challenges, he moved on to join Bemil Nigeria Ltd in September2004 as General Manager Omega Care & Manufacturing (a subsidiary of Bemil Nig Ltd) his exhibition of hard work earned him a spectacular promotion to the position of First Ever Group General Manager ofBemil Nig. Ltd (With Six District Business Subsidiaries) in less than one year of joining the indigenous conglomerate.
He championed the course of Business re- engineering and consolidation of the entire six subsidiaries to
Cooperate standard and remarkably flagged off the ISO certification of Bemil Group of companies.
Akin is a motivational speaker and a facilitator of repute on sales, marketing customer services and
hospitality training and manpower development. He has been actively involved with Notable Consultancy outfit on these Topics i.e. Accenture, Vic Lawrence, Tom Associates, Tem-Top Enterprises. O&S consultancy just to mention a few.
He is well traveled and versed in areas of hospitality industry. He is a member of several international and
national professional bodies among which are-:
- Hotel and Catering International Management Association, UK
- Hospitality Training Foundation UK.
- Hotel Accommodation Hotels, Hospitality and Housekeeping institute uk.
- Nigeria Association of Hotel and Catering Managers.
- Nigeria institute of Management.
- Business Executive breakfast club (Lagos Business School ) 1999-2002
- Facilitate Rotary International Youth Forum 2001-till date.
- South Africa Spices Seasoning and Food Taste Enhancer Producer Association.
- Besides, he had publish several articles/dissertations notable among which are
- Minimum standard for classifications of five star hotels in Nigeria.
- Sales promotion as an effective tool for marketing in a deregulated economy.
- Know your “onions “(as food, garnish, accompaniment, spice, taste-enhancer, preservative, flavoring
- and medicine
- Management development in Hospitality and Tourism
- Fly the wall: An inspiration to setting up a small food business.
- Demographic change the role of Hospitality Manager
- Quality Tourism & Hospitality Management new horizon & the role of Rotary club as catalyst.
He is at present the Director of Operations at Hotel Solutions Hospitality Nigeria Limited.
