Telecommunications Giant Safaricom on Thursday appointed Peter Ndegwa as the company’s Chief Executive Officer effective April 1, 2020.
Ndegwa will take over from Michael Joseph who is currently the Company’s acting CEO. Michael temporarily took over the wheels of the firm after the death of the late Bob Collymore on 1 July 2019.
The name might have come as a surprise to some who expected the CEO to be selected from within the firm.
Ndegwa has more than 25 years experience in general management, commercial and business strategy, sales and finance operations having served various roles within the Financial Services and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sectors in Africa and Europe.
He is currently the Managing Director of Diageo Continental Europe where he supervises the operations of the company in over 50 countries spread across the world.
He has overseen the operations of Diageo PLC in Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and the North Africa region.
Also, he occupied diverse senior Executive Director roles at East African Breweries Limited – a Diageo subsidiary – in Nairobi.
During this time, Ndegwa served as the Group Chief Finance Officer, Sakes Director, Group Strategy Director and Executive Director on the EABL Board.
Before EABL, the appointee worked at Pricewaterhouse Coopers where he was a sales director between 2006 and 2008.
He joined PwC after college, worked three years before he was seconded by his employer to the United Kingdom.
Education
Ndegwa is an account by profession. He holds an MBA from London Business School and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Nairobi.
He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK).
As the CEO of Gunness Nigeria PLC and Guinness Ghana Breweries, he is credited with launching new brands, investing in people and realising double-digit growth.
He helped boost the sales of Guinness Nigeria Breweries amidst declining oil prices that negatively affected the country’s economy.
While announcing Ndegwa’s appointment, Safaricom Chairman Nicholas Nganga said the board was confident that Ndegwa will carry its vision of transforming lives while upholding transparency.
Marriage
He is married to Jemimah Ndegwa and together they have a 10-year-old son called Ryan.