Ladi Delano: Nigerian Billionaire and CEO, Bakrie Delano Africa

The Ladi Delano

Nothing excites me more than hearing about Nigerians with  sound business nous, who work hard, focus, and dominate in their chosen field. And every time I hear about one, I’ma blog about them. That being said, I know we’re tardy to the party, but as this is a new blog, we have some catching up to do.

Presenting Ladi Delano: at the age of 22, the jet-setting Nigerian serial entrepreneur made his first millions as a liquor entrepreneur while living in China. He founded Solidarnosc Asia, a Chinese alcoholic beverage company that made Solid XS, a premium brand of vodka. To do this, Delano took language lessons and traveled the country in order to sell his product and get it into the mainstream.

During the first six months, volumes were not rising but the marketing budget was dwindling. He took the bold step along with a business partner to pack up shop from the UK and relocate to Hong Kong and simply try to figure it all out. In three years, Solid XS went on to achieve over 50% market share in China and was distributed across over 30 cities in China, and pulled in $20 million in annual revenue.

Delano subsequently sold the company to a rival liquor company for over $15 million and ploughed his funds into his next venture-The Delano Reid Group, a real estate investment holding company focused on mainland China.  Today, Delano is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bakrie Delano Africa (BDA) – a $1 billion joint venture with the $15 billion (market cap) Bakrie Group of Indonesia. Bakrie Delano Africa serves as the investment partner of the Bakrie Group in Nigeria.

I honestly can’t understand what it is about him I find so attractive…