Stéphane Jaffret, former chief executive of Rougier Gabon, took office on January 9, 2026, as the new head of the Société des Grands Moulins du Cameroun (SGMC). His appointment comes five months after Cadyst, the group controlled by Célestin Tawamba, acquired SGMC in Cameroon and SGMP in Congo, with the aim of consolidating about 40% of the Cameroonian market and anchoring its expansion in Congo.
Based in Libreville, where he led Rougier Gabon from December 2022, Jaffret oversaw a fully integrated timber value chain, from production to processing and marketing of logs, sawn timber, and plywood. He held the position for just over three years in complex operating environments, gaining experience in vertical integration that Cadyst intends to apply to milling, including securing supply flows, improving yields, and enforcing cost discipline across the value chain.
Before joining Rougier, Jaffret spent four years at the helm of Penn Industries in France between 2019 and 2022, where he reorganized production, set up an engineering office, developed the commercial function, and overhauled the company’s visual identity, including its website and branding. From 2017 to 2019, he headed SUCAF Centrafrique, part of the SOMDIAA group, combining plantations, a refinery, and a distribution network. Across these roles, he built operational expertise around process standardization, continuous improvement, performance monitoring, and alignment between production and market strategy.
Cadyst’s roadmap: integrate, transform, create value
Cadyst said the appointment reflects its belief that its ambitions depend on leaders able to unite teams, drive transformation, and create long-term value. For SGMC, the priority is to accelerate industrial transformation and strengthen competitiveness, with close control over quality, costs, and customer service.
The move fits into the post-acquisition phase following Cadyst’s takeover of SGMC in Cameroon and SGMP in Congo, two strategic assets acquired from the Somdia group. Through these deals, Cadyst has reinforced its leadership position in Cameroon, targeting a market share of around 40%. Expansion into Congo opens a second growth front, with broader integration across animal feed, poultry, and finished agri-food products in both countries.
At the helm of the Grand Moulin du Cameroun, Jaffret is expected to focus on execution, including quick gains in maintenance, line availability, and material yields, as well as securing supplies, strengthening logistics reliability, and aligning industrial capacity with volume and quality targets. Delivery of the strategy will depend on robust project governance, structured labor relations, and a clear investment trajectory.
Amina Malloum
