Monique Gieskes, CEO of Plantations et Huileries du Congo (PHC), has been recognized with a prestigious distinction: the “Special African Business Leadership Commendation Award”, presented by African Leadership Magazine during the 14th edition of the Personality of the Year Awards. This well-deserved recognition celebrates a visionary leader whose insight and leadership are shaping a new future for the agribusiness industry in Africa.
The African Leadership Magazine Personality of the Year Awards honor the architects of Africa’s future—bold and visionary leaders driving transformation. The 2025 edition brought together a constellation of influential figures from the political and economic spheres, including Andry Rajoelina, President of Madagascar; Robinah Nabbanja, Prime Minister of Uganda; and Professor Kevin Chika Urama, Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB).
At this vibrant event in Casablanca, Monique Gieskes received her award from Jakaya Kikwete, former President of Tanzania. In his tribute, he praised the excellence and vision of a bold leader whose leadership is opening new horizons for the future. He also highlighted her significant contribution to innovation and sustainable socio-economic growth in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and across the African continent.
A Transformational Leader
In just four years, Monique Gieskes has led a remarkable strategic transformation at PHC, the leading producer of sustainable palm oil in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the country’s second-largest employer after the Congolese state. With over a century of expertise in crude palm oil and palm kernel oil extraction, the company operates on three strategic sites: Lokutu (Tshopo province), Yaligimba (Mongala province), and Boteka (Équateur province). PHC combines economic performance with social impact, playing a vital role in food security and the promotion of responsible agricultural practices.
Under Monique Gieskes’ leadership, bold reforms have been implemented to strengthen governance, double the workforce, and boost productivity while integrating sustainable and innovative practices at every stage of operations. Beyond economic performance, she has made community engagement the cornerstone of PHC’s vision, elevating corporate social responsibility to a fundamental priority.
An Award Dedicated to PHC’s 10,000 Employees
Upon receiving the award, Monique Gieskes stated:“I am deeply honored by this recognition from African Leadership Magazine. More than a personal achievement, this award is undeniably dedicated to PHC’s 10,000 employees. Every step forward we take is the result of their commitment and relentless drive to excel. “Today, PHC is the largest private employer in the DRC and the leading producer of sustainable palm oil in Central Africa. We carry a strong vision: to create shared prosperity through agribusiness. This success is the result of dedicated men and women—agronomic engineers, harvesters, weeders, pruners, nursery teams caring for our seedlings, administrative staff… At every level, each action matters, and every effort contributes to building this collective success. This award is as much theirs as it is mine. Thanks to their trust and determination, we have turned PHC into a flagship of the agricultural industry in the DRC, producing palm oil responsibly and sustainably while making a real social and economic impact on local communities in remote areas, more than 2,000 km from the capital.”
She added: “I would like to express my deep gratitude to our investor and majority shareholder, Kuramo Capital Management, for believing in PHC’s ability to reinvent itself and thrive. This success is undeniable proof that an African-led company, built for Africans, can prosper and serve as a model for equal opportunity and sustainable development. To all investors: have faith in the future of the DRC. Yes, the challenges are real, but our resilience and leadership are paving the way for new opportunities. Agriculture, in particular, is a powerful lever for creating sustainable prosperity, transforming lives, and driving economic growth.”
A Spirit of Excellence
Also present at the awards ceremony in Casablanca, Shaka Kariuki, Co-CEO of Kuramo Capital Management, PHC’s majority shareholder, congratulated Monique Gieskes on this recognition and for putting PHC on the global map.
“This prestigious award marks an important milestone and recognition of the outstanding work accomplished by Ms. Gieskes at the helm of PHC. In just four years, she has successfully turned around a struggling company, steering it towards profitability and significantly increasing palm oil production. Ms. Gieskes embodies the spirit of excellence that has spread throughout the organization, supported by Kuramo’s vision of shared prosperity.
In an industry traditionally dominated by male leaders, she continues to prove—time and again—that by identifying strong local talent in the countries where we invest and empowering them to execute the business strategy, companies can be propelled to new heights of success. This remains a crucial factor in the success of any enterprise.”
