Tetra Pak appoints Wael Khoury as Managing Director for Southern Africa

SOUTH AFRICA – Tetra Pak has announced the appointment of Wael Khoury as its new Managing Director for Southern Africa, effective November last year, succeeding Klaus Plenge, who led the business for four years.

The move underscores the packaging and processing giant’s continued emphasis on leadership depth, sustainability, and customer-centric growth across its African operations.

Khoury brings more than 25 years of global experience within Tetra Pak, having held senior leadership roles across Australia, the Middle East, North Africa, and most recently Egypt.

According to the company, his appointment signals a renewed focus on innovation, sustainability, and strengthened partnerships in Southern Africa, one of Tetra Pak’s strategically important and fast-evolving markets.

Before relocating to Southern Africa, Khoury served as Managing Director for Tetra Pak Egypt Area, where he oversaw notable business expansion and landmark sustainability initiatives.

Among these was the development of Egypt’s first sustainable beverage carton recycling infrastructure, established in partnership with Uniboard for Paper and Board.

The facility has already processed more than 2,500 tonnes of used beverage cartons and is targeting an annual capacity of 8,000 tonnes, supporting circular economy goals and local recycling capacity.

Khoury also led a €14-million greenfield investment in Libya, introducing advanced packaging and processing technologies aimed at boosting local food production, reducing import reliance, and supporting economic development.

Tetra Pak says these initiatives reflect Khoury’s track record in aligning commercial growth with long-term sustainability objectives.

“I’m honoured to take on this new role and to continue building on the strong foundation laid by the Southern Africa team,” said Khoury.

“Tetra Pak’s purpose, to make food safe and available everywhere, continues to inspire us to do more for our customers, our people, and our planet.”

Khoury’s appointment comes amid a broader leadership reshuffle across Tetra Pak’s African operations as the company accelerates regional growth and sustainability ambitions.

In the Egypt Area, Stelios Mourouglakis was appointed Managing Director effective 1 November 2025.

Based in Cairo, Mourouglakis brings more than 14 years of experience within Tetra Pak and will oversee operations across Egypt and neighbouring markets.

Meanwhile, Haithem Debbiche was named Managing Director for the Maghreb and West Africa region, expanding his remit beyond West Africa to include the Maghreb.

In an official statement, Tetra Pak said Debbiche’s leadership will be key to driving growth, strengthening partnerships, and delivering sustainable value across the expanded region.

Collectively, the leadership changes highlight Tetra Pak’s intent to deepen its footprint in Africa, leveraging experienced regional leaders to advance food systems resilience, packaging innovation, and circular economy initiatives across diverse markets.

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