The International Council of Beverages Associations (ICBA) has appointed Kenyan lawyer and corporate executive Iddah Asin to head its newly formed Africa office, a move the group says reflects the continent’s growing influence in the non-alcoholic drinks sector.
Asin will serve as the first Executive Director of ICBA Africa, which will be based in Nairobi and work alongside ICBA’s existing regional arms in Latin America and Asia Pacific. The council represents the worldwide non-alcoholic beverage industry, from bottled water producers to juice, tea and soft drink makers, operating in more than 200 countries.
In a statement, ICBA said the Africa branch aims to strengthen collaboration between industry players, governments, civil society and other stakeholders. The goal, according to the organization, is to “share best practices, support evidence-based policymaking and achieve shared goals” in areas like health and environmental sustainability.
Asin, who has built her career at the intersection of corporate strategy and public policy, previously led government affairs for Johnson & Johnson in Sub-Saharan Africa and held a similar role at Kenya Airways. She is an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya and studied law and public policy at Makerere University, the Kenya School of Law and Strathmore Business School.
Her work has earned recognition in recent years: she was named among the Top 50 Women Lawyers by the Nairobi Legal Awards in 2024 and included in Kenya’s “Top 40 under 40 Women” list by Nation Media Group in 2017.
“I’m truly honored to become the first Executive Director of ICBA Africa and to help the sector contribute to positive outcomes on the continent and around the world,” Asin said. “Building from Africa’s unique priorities and maximizing our collective potential will be central to our work.”
ICBA President Andrés Massieu called the Africa launch “a significant milestone for the sector” and said Asin’s “deep expertise in public-private collaboration, health and sustainability” would make the new branch a valuable partner to governments and industry leaders.
Kate Loatman, ICBA’s global Executive Director, added that she looked forward to working with Asin to expand the council’s reach as “a powerful platform for engagement, partnerships and progress.”
Founded in 1995, the ICBA brings together national and regional beverage associations along with major international companies. Its members make and sell a wide range of drinks, from soft drinks and sports beverages to teas, coffees, fruit juices and dairy-based products.
