Manchester consumer products company PZ Cussons plc — maker of Carex, Imperial Leather and Sanctuary Spa –announced that Peju Adebajo and Sarah Miles will join its board as non-executive directors “bringing significant international, consumer goods and digital expertise.”

Adebajo is MD of Etex Nigeria, a Nigerian building materials business. Sarah Miles is CEO of Hush UK, a fashion and lifestyle brand.

The board appointments will take effect from the conclusion of PZ Cussons’ Annual General Meeting on October 1, 2026, following the departure of Valeria Juarez and Jitesh Sodha from the board on the same day.

Cussons employs 2,000 people internationally.

Cussons said: “Peju (Adebajo) is the Managing Director of Etex Nigeria, a Nigerian building materials business. She has wide experience across a number of industrial sectors in Africa and the UK including building materials, agriculture, renewables, bedding, food, consulting and banking.

“She is currently a non-executive director at FCMB Group Plc, a NGX-listed financial services company, and of Wolseley Ltd in the UK. She has also been a non-executive director of Ibstock plc, listed on the London Stock Exchange, from 2021 to 2026.

“She has held CEO roles in a number of companies including Lumos Nigeria, Lafarge Africa and Mouka Ltd. She holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London and an MBA from Harvard University.

“Peju was 2015 CNBC Africa Businesswoman of the Year, the recipient of the 2013 Harvard Business School Nigeria Leadership award, and was on Cranfield University’s 2021 ‘100 Women to Watch’ UK list.”

Cussons added: “Sarah Miles is CEO of Hush UK, the fashion and lifestyle brand. She brings extensive experience, developed across a career spanning consulting, consumer goods and online retail.

“Sarah spent 12 years at Diageo in a range of leadership roles covering brand, strategy and innovation, before joining Amazon, where she spent five years and was latterly Apparel Director for Fashion in Europe.

“She subsequently served as CEO of Feelunique, leading the online beauty retailer through its sale to Sephora. Sarah was a non-executive director at James Cropper PLC, the AIM-listed advanced materials and paper & packaging company, between 2021 and 2025. Sarah is a graduate in PPE from Oxford University.”

PZ Cussons chair David Tyler said: “On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Peju and Sarah. Peju brings deep knowledge of Nigeria alongside extensive international executive and listed company experience.

“Sarah brings significant consumer, brand and digital expertise from senior roles at Diageo, Amazon, Feelunique and Hush UK. I look forward very much to working with them both.

“I want to thank Valeria and Jitesh again for their invaluable contributions to the Board over the last few years. We are very grateful for their commitment to PZ Cussons and wish them every success in their future endeavours.“