Hubbard Strengthens East and Southern Africa Presence With New Area Manager Appointment
In a strategic move to bolster its operations in East and Southern Africa, Hubbard has appointed Yannick Levantard as the new Area Manager for the region. Levantard succeeds Jean Lebec, who departed to explore new personal and professional opportunities. This leadership change marks a renewed commitment to advancing poultry farming practices and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Levantard brings a robust educational background and two decades of practical experience in poultry operations and business management. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture with a specialisation in Agricultural Extension from the University of Mauritius (2003) and a Master’s degree in Agricultural Development Economics from the University of Reading, UK (2005). These academic credentials have equipped him with a keen understanding of agricultural systems within emerging markets.
His career journey began with a 19-year tenure at Avipro Co. Ltd in Mauritius, where he progressed from Broiler Operations Officer to Breeding Operations Manager. During this time, Levantard honed his operational skills and spearheaded numerous strategic projects, contributing significantly to the company’s success. In 2019, he took up the role of Operations Manager at Avitech SA in Madagascar, advancing to General Manager in 2023. In this leadership position, he drove business strategies and maintained vital stakeholder relations, experience that he now brings to Hubbard.
As Area Manager, Levantard will report directly to Bruno Briand, Hubbard’s Global Sales Director. His core responsibilities include overseeing regional operations, managing distributor relationships, and supporting the Hubbard Efficiency Plus distributor in East Africa. He will also lead initiatives aimed at expanding Hubbard’s market share within the poultry sector, while ensuring high service and operational standards through close collaboration with local Customer Support teams.
Levantard emphasises that his mission extends beyond product sales. “Building trust and sharing technical expertise with our clients is paramount,” he says. His vision is to blend technical knowledge with hands-on customer engagement to accelerate Hubbard’s growth across East and Southern Africa, which he describes as a “highly promising market.”
This development resonates strongly with Zimbabwe’s evolving poultry sector, where local producers like Msika Chigodora, a small-scale poultry farmer in Harare, stand to benefit from enhanced access to quality breeds and expert support. Zimbabwe’s national development strategy (NDS1) underscores the importance of modernising agriculture and empowering women and youth in agribusiness, making Levantard’s role critical in aligning company initiatives with these goals.
FFA Explainer Box: Hubbard Efficiency Plus – A specialised distributor network ensuring availability of premium quality poultry breeds and technical support tailored for East African markets.
Mr Bruno Briand praises Levantard’s appointment, highlighting his comprehensive expertise in both conventional and premium poultry market segments as vital to strengthening Hubbard’s competitive edge in the region. Briand notes that “Yannick’s strategic acumen and operational experience are invaluable assets that will underpin our expansion and deepen our partnerships across key markets.”
Zimbabwe’s poultry industry is ripe for advancement, with years of government policies aimed at food security and youth employment through agriculture. The Zimbabwe Poultry Association’s recent efforts to collaborate with poultry innovators align with Hubbard’s strategic outreach, creating an enabling environment for growth and knowledge dissemination.
Levantard’s vision aligns well with these priorities, particularly in creating opportunities for women and young entrepreneurs in poultry farming. By deploying integrated support systems and technical trainings, Hubbard is positioned to help uplift rural communities and contribute tangibly to Zimbabwe’s goals under NDS1.
The appointment of Yannick Levantard signifies Hubbard’s long-term commitment to driving sustainable poultry development throughout East and Southern Africa. His leadership promises to enhance operational excellence, foster inclusive growth, and ensure that farmers like Msika can fully capitalise on new avenues for prosperity in poultry production.
With poultry continuing to play a pivotal role in nutrition and economic development across Africa, Hubbard’s reinforced management team is set to play an instrumental role in shaping a vibrant future for the sector.
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