Leading energy drink – Gorilla Energy has appointed Ahmed Elafifi as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), with immediate effect. 

In his new role, Ahmed brings three decades of industry leadership experience as he served leading brands including Coca-Cola, Monster, Burn, and Red Bull. He will be spearheading the company’s growth and expansion globally including key markets in North America, Asia, and the Middle East, making it one of top five brands. 

Gleb Lifschitz, Co-founder, Gorilla Energy welcomed Ahmed saying, “We are thrilled to have Ahmed joining Gorilla Energy. Ahmed has a unique ability to foster an entrepreneurial, fast-paced, adaptable culture while bringing much-needed structure to the team as we continue to expand internationally. Ahmed's tremendous experience, his authenticity, and his innate ability to think outside the box and do things differently make him the ideal candidate to lead Gorilla Energy into the future,"

Ahmed also expressed, “I joined Gorilla to build a fresh, global energy drink and lifestyle brand for a generation that refuses to settle for the same old choices. Every one of us is on a journey to define who we are—and Gorilla Energy powers that instinct to break away, try new things, and go all in on what makes us unique.”

“We’re not trying to be like the legacy brands—we’re building something different. We believe in authenticity, creativity, and real impact. Our job is to fuel ambition and self-expression, not dictate lifestyles. That’s how we’ll continue earning the trust of today’s consumers.” he added.

Ahmed is a seasoned business leader, and is known to lead Coca-Cola’s major product launches like Monster and Burn, and helped Red Bull expand into over 50 countries, turning it into a global cultural icon. As the Managing Director of Coca-Cola HBC Egypt, he transformed a struggling business into a EGP26 billion success, secured $100 million in sustainability funding, and delivered record growth. He also founded TranQuini, one of the first relaxation drinks in the world, which launched in over 40 countries—showcasing his knack for spotting and creating new trends.

During his tenure at Red Bull, Ahmed played a key role in its global growth and in building its reputation through extreme sports and cultural marketing. His work boosted Austria’s exports by several billion Euros and earned him Austrian citizenship.

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On the academic front, Ahmed holds an executive development program from IMD and The Wharton School, and a BSc in Mechanical Engineering Design from the American University in Cairo.