Transitional General Management – Agricultural Industrial Sugar Refining Company of Congo (SARIS)

The context

SARIS, a subsidiary of the SOMDIA Group and the largest private employer in the Republic of Congo, is a strategic player in the national agribusiness sector. In June 2024, just days before the start of the annual sugarcane harvest—a crucial period for the company's economic performance—its Managing Director was forced to take an indefinite leave of absence. Meanwhile, a brand-new distillery was under construction on the site, with an inauguration planned for May 2025 in the presence of the highest authorities in the country.

Faced with this critical situation, marked by a double operational (harvest) and strategic (delivery of a high-visibility industrial site) emergency, SOMDIA cannot afford any delay or disruption in the management of SARIS.

The mission

To ensure continuity at the helm of the company, SOMDIA has entrusted Actiss Africa with the immediate assumption of the General Management of SARIS on an interim management basis, with an on-site presence starting in June 2024. The Interim Manager appointed by Actiss Africa had the following objectives:
• To lead all harvesting and production operations with the existing teams;
• To maintain managerial and social cohesion in an uncertain environment;

• To oversee the progress of the distillery’s construction, in coordination with the technical teams and subcontractors;

• To liaise with the Congolese authorities, whose attention to the company is at its highest due to its economic importance and the announced presidential inauguration.

Results

The results achieved through this mission are unequivocal:
• In April 2025, the sugar campaign was successfully completed, achieving record results in terms of harvest volume and profitability. This represents the best financial performance ever recorded by SARIS;

• The distillery construction project was delivered on schedule, ensuring adherence to the inauguration timeline set for May 2025 by President Denis Sassou-Nguesso;

The teams remained mobilized and stable, despite the uncertain environment;

Relations with local authorities were maintained in a climate of trust;

• The return of the permanent Managing Director is scheduled for July 2025.

Client: SOMDIA Group (CASTEL)

Sector: Agribusiness / Sugar Refining

Duration of assignment: 13 months (June 2024 – June 2025)

Actiss Africa Partner: Gilles MARQUE

Mission objectives

Ensure the transition

Team mobilization

Oversee the progress

Lead production operations

Liaise with the Congolese authorities

Coordination with the technical teams

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