Peter Ndegwa Appointed as New Safaricom CEO

Kenya’s leading telecommunications operator, Safaricom has appointed Peter Ndegwa as its new CEO.

In a statement on Wednesday, Safaricom said Ndegwa’s appointment will take effect on April 1st, 2020.

Ndegwa joins Safaricom from British multinational, Diageo PLC, where he has been serving as the Managing Director of Diageo Continental Europe. 

He oversees operations of Diageo PLC in 50 countries in Western and Eastern Europe, the Middle East and North Africa region.

 "Peter brings a wealth of experience in General Management, Commercial and Business Strategy, Sales and Finance Operations, having spent over 25 years in various roles within the Financial Services and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sectors in Africa and Europe," Safaricom Chairman Nicholas Ng'ang'a said in a statement.

"We are confident that Peter will carry on our vision of transforming lives while keeping us focused on meeting our customers’ needs and holding us to our new commitment of being simple, transparent and honest." 

Ndegwa, who served as East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) finance director in the past, will take over from Michael Joseph, who was named acting Safaricom CEO following the death of Bob Collymore in July this year. 

Collymore, who had served in the position since 2010, succumbed to cancer at his home in Nairobi on July 1st. Ndegwa becomes the first Kenyan national to head Safaricom since its establishment.