Mohammed Akoojee: The executive driving DP World’s Africa logistics expansion

Mohammed Akoojee, CEO of Sub-Saharan Africa at DP World, is spearheading a multi-billion-dollar strategy to integrate Africa’s fragmented supply chains into a unified logistics ecosystem. Following DP World’s R12.7 billion ($890 million) acquisition of Imperial Logistics in 2022, Akoojee has taken a central role in expanding port operations, freight networks, and market access platforms across more than 40 African countries.

His leadership reflects a broader shift in Africa’s trade architecture, where infrastructure, logistics, and digital systems are converging to drive efficiency and global competitiveness.

At the core of his career journey is the transformation of Imperial Logistics into a strategic global asset through its acquisition by DP World, a transaction that marked a turning point in Africa’s integration into global supply chain systems.

From investment banking to logistics leadership

Akoojee began his professional journey in financial services, working in corporate finance and investment banking roles at Investec Bank and earlier as an equity analyst at Nedbank Securities. In 2009, he joined Imperial Logistics, setting the foundation for a career that would span over a decade of operational and strategic leadership.

Within Imperial, he progressed through senior positions, including CEO of Logistics African Regions, executive responsible for mergers and acquisitions, strategy and investor relations, Group Chief Financial Officer, acting CEO of Imperial Holdings, and later Group CEO in 2019.

By the time he assumed the top role, Imperial had evolved into a diversified logistics operator with operations across Africa and Europe, serving industries including healthcare, automotive, consumer goods, and industrial supply chains.

Restructuring a pan-African logistics platform

As Group CEO, Akoojee led Imperial through a period of strategic repositioning aimed at sharpening its focus on integrated logistics and market access. The company streamlined its portfolio while expanding its presence in key growth sectors.

Under his leadership, Imperial strengthened its healthcare and pharmaceutical logistics capabilities, deepened its FMCG and consumer goods distribution networks, expanded its African market access operations, and increased its footprint in West Africa, including Nigeria and Ghana. The group also advanced its end-to-end supply chain integration strategy across multiple sectors.

This restructuring phase repositioned Imperial from a diversified holding structure into a focused logistics and distribution platform tailored to emerging market dynamics.

The DP World acquisition and strategic integration

A defining milestone in Akoojee’s career came in 2022, when DP World acquired Imperial Logistics in a deal valued at approximately R12.7 billion ($890 million). The transaction integrated Imperial into DP World’s global supply chain ecosystem, linking African logistics infrastructure with international maritime and trade networks.

The acquisition aligned with DP World’s broader strategy of building an end-to-end logistics system across Africa, combining ports and terminals, inland logistics corridors, freight services, and market access platforms into a unified trade infrastructure.

Following the deal, Akoojee transitioned into his current role as CEO and Managing Director for Sub-Saharan Africa at DP World, helping to oversee the integration and expansion of the combined business.

Building a continental logistics network

In his current mandate, Akoojee oversees DP World’s operations across more than 40 African markets, spanning port operations, freight forwarding, warehousing, supply chain solutions, and market access services for multinational clients.

The platform under his leadership has become a multi-billion-dollar logistics network employing tens of thousands of workers across Africa, positioning DP World as one of the continent’s most influential trade enablers.

A key focus has been strengthening supply chains for essential goods, particularly in healthcare and fast-moving consumer goods. Strategic investments have included expansion of pharmaceutical distribution systems, scaling of healthcare logistics networks across multiple African markets, and targeted acquisitions such as Africa FMCG Distribution Ltd in Nigeria to strengthen consumer supply chains.

Integration as a strategic philosophy

Akoojee’s leadership approach has been defined by a consistent emphasis on integration, linking ports, inland transport, warehousing, and market access systems into a single coordinated ecosystem.

This model reflects DP World’s global strategy of reducing inefficiencies in fragmented supply chains and improving trade flows across emerging markets through infrastructure consolidation and digital logistics systems.

His priorities have centered on improving trade connectivity, enhancing supply chain efficiency, supporting regional market integration, and deploying technology-driven logistics solutions.

The bigger picture

Akoojee’s professional journey reflects a broader structural shift in African trade and logistics, from fragmented national systems toward globally integrated supply chain networks.

From investment banking beginnings to leading one of Africa’s most strategically positioned logistics platforms, his trajectory underscores how finance, mergers and acquisitions, and operational leadership are converging to redefine trade infrastructure on the continent.

Today, as DP World’s Sub-Saharan Africa chief executive, he sits at the center of a logistics ecosystem linking African producers to global markets through an expanding network of ports, corridors, and integrated supply chain systems.