Cavista Holdings has appointed Tony Bello as Chief Innovation and Commercialisation Officer at Matna Foods Limited as part of efforts to strengthen its agro-industrial strategy following the company’s recent acquisition of the food processing firm.
Dr. Bello is an internationally recognised food scientist and industrial transformation executive with more than three decades of experience across the United States, Europe, Asia and Africa. His career spans leadership roles in product development, food innovation and commercialization within major global food companies.
He previously held senior innovation positions at PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, Kellogg Company, and Kraft Foods, where he led several product development initiatives and secured patents in food processing and formulation in both the United States and Europe.
Beyond the private sector, Bello has advised global development institutions including the United Nations Development Programme, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa on agribusiness development and agricultural value chains. He has also worked with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security on agricultural transformation initiatives.
Chairman of Cavista Holdings and Agbeyewa Farms, Niyi John Olajide, said the appointment reflects the group’s ambition to build globally competitive food businesses from African agriculture.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Tony Bello to the Cavista Holdings family. He brings world-class scientific expertise and deep commercialization experience that will strengthen our ambition to build globally competitive food businesses from African agriculture,” Olajide said.
He added that Bello’s leadership will help unlock the potential of cassava by transforming locally produced crops into high-value products capable of serving both Nigerian and international markets.
At Matna Foods, Bello will lead the company’s innovation strategy, product development and commercialization initiatives, with a strong focus on expanding cassava-based food products for domestic and export markets.
Industry observers say the appointment signals Cavista Holdings’ continued commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chains and promoting value addition within the country’s food processing sector.
