New BGEN subsidiary, BGEN International, appoints Bolaji Sofoluwe and Don Foy as Chairwoman and Managing Director.

BGEN are pleased to announce the launch of BGEN International Ltd, a subsidiary of BGEN Ltd, which will be opening a new office in Lagos, Nigeria. 

The new company will complement our existing International Department and has been specifically formed to expand and support our client base in Nigeria, and Africa in general.  The entity will be overseen by Vinnie Edge, who will continue to be responsible for International operations.

To ensure the success of the new entity, BGEN International has made two key appointments to form a dynamic team with a wealth of overseas experience.

Introducing Bolaji Sofoluwe

Bolaji Sofoluwe is appointed Chair after impressing the BGEN board with her contribution to BGEN International’s entry strategy in to the African market.

Bolaji, born in Birmingham but brought up in Nigeria after the age of 7, has always had an international outlook.

She has over twenty years’ professional experience, advising various businesses and covering diverse sectors – including aviation, financial services, health, energy, agriculture, and infrastructure – on their market expansion strategy. Her jobs have included working at policy level in financial services, as well as financial risk management and business advisory roles.

Bolaji is an export champion for the Department for International Trade, a coach on the Mandela Mile, mentor for Innovate UK Edge and an angel investor to a small portfolio of female-led African businesses. She brings a unique understanding of international business, using her mixed cultural background to her advantage.

She is a conference speaker, guest lecturer and trade policy analyst. She is also an entrepreneurship expert at Saïd Business School, Oxford University.

Bolaji hopes to develop BGEN International’s presence in Africa whilst establishing the brand in key markets. She is particularly excited about working with the team to implement community projects which would have a lasting impact.

She holds a B.A in Languages and Linguistics and is concluding an MSc in International Business Leadership and Management at York School of Management.

She enjoys travelling, reading, and writing and is fluent in French and English.

Please join us in congratulating Don Foy.

The appointment of Don Foy as Managing Director means that BGEN International will be in safe experienced hands when entering the African market.

Don’s background is in mechanical services in utilities, building services and HVAC and is a chartered engineer in CIBSE.

Notably, Don has held the positions of chief engineer at Croda Chemicals, managing director of Pro-De-Zine Consultants and the project manager of a $60m project with Cadbury, Nigeria. Don also has an entrepreneurial streak, having run his own design consultancy for 15 years.

One of the key reasons for Don’s appointment was his extensive experience overseas. Spending 6 years in Saudi Arabia, one year in Turkey and Oman, and over seven years in Nigeria, where BGEN International will be based.

Don loves all sports and was a keen squash player before moving to running road races and several marathons, as well as fell walking, cycling, and skiing. He is looking forward to the new challenge of establishing clients in Africa for BGEN, working with the International team.