Gabriel Desvaux appointed Country Manager of LFL Rwanda

RWANDA – Livestock Feed Ltd (LFL) has appointed Gabriel Desvaux as the new Country Manager of its Rwanda operations, marking a significant step in the company’s strategy to expand its presence in East Africa. 

The appointment comes as LFL seeks to scale up production and strengthen its role in Rwanda’s growing livestock sector.

LFL entered the Rwandan market in 2021 with a feed mill producing 1,000 tons per month, mainly for the poultry industry. The company currently employs 45 people but plans to double that number in the coming years. 

Desvaux’s appointment is seen as key to advancing these ambitions, particularly as LFL looks to build a new factory, expand its product reach, and secure reliable raw material supply chains.

A return to his roots

At 38, Desvaux brings nearly two decades of on and off experience with LFL and its parent group, Eclosia. His relationship with the company dates back to 2006, when he joined as an intern in Mauritius. “LFL gave me my first real professional school of life,” he recalls.

After completing studies in marketing and management in Mauritius and Australia, he rejoined LFL as a Production Officer before relocating to Madagascar in 2011. 

What was meant to be a two-year assignment turned into a seven-year commitment, during which he helped establish a new feed factory and gained invaluable experience in managing rapidly changing markets. “Madagascar was a school in every sense – professionally and personally,” he says.

Desvaux later returned to Mauritius, where he diversified his career, managing business units, pursuing an Executive MBA at Paris-Dauphine, and gaining exposure in property management. 

When the opportunity arose to lead LFL Rwanda, he says the decision felt natural. “I read the job description and instantly thought of my time in Madagascar, building a factory, setting up processes, and recruiting. And going back to LFL felt like returning to my roots.”

Building for growth in Rwanda

Desvaux’s mission in Kigali is clear: grow production capacity, develop a strong local team, and deepen LFL’s integration into Rwanda’s livestock value chain. 

“My priority is to understand the country. Rwanda has a powerful history and a culture different from ours. I want to listen, integrate, and grow together with the team already in place,” he explains.

One of the key challenges he foresees is securing raw materials. While Rwanda produces maize, the backbone of feed production, effective logistics and collection systems remain a work in progress.

“Without inputs, there’s no production. That’s where we’ll need to be smart,” Desvaux notes.

Known for his participative leadership style, he emphasises collaboration as central to achieving results. 

“We are all links in a chain. I won’t succeed alone. My style is participative: delegate, supervise, but above all brainstorms. The more we share, the better the ideas that emerge.”

Strengthening LFL’s regional ambition

LFL’s entry into Rwanda is part of a broader ambition to support livestock farmers across East Africa. 

By increasing feed availability and quality, the company aims to contribute to food security and the professionalisation of the livestock sector.

With Desvaux at the helm, LFL Rwanda is set to consolidate its early gains and position itself as a key player in the region’s feed market. His mix of technical expertise, regional experience, and leadership training positions him well for the task ahead.

“We welcome Gabriel to lead LFL Rwanda Ltd, where he brings his expertise and energy to drive the company’s growth,” the company said in a LinkedIn statement. “Guided by our mission to develop and sustain livestock farming in East Africa, his appointment reinforces our ambition to grow LFL in the region.”

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