Author: Lorine Otamo

Two of East Africa’s most prominent companies reshuffled their financial leadership on the same day. Risper Ohaga ended her tenure as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at East African Breweries PLC on 30 June 2026, and Justin Mollel stepped into the role effective 1 July 2026. APA Apollo Group named Risper as its next Group Chief Executive Officer, a move that signals how keenly the insurance sector has been watching one of EABL’s most accomplished finance leaders. Justin Mollel: The Man Who Takes the Chair Mollel’s appointment as Executive Director and Group CFO at EABL completes a promotion that…

Absa Bank Kenya has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Gen Z Connect by Executive Connect, pairing one of Kenya’s largest commercial banks with a fast growing youth network to put financial skills and business opportunities directly in front of young Kenyans. The MoU was signed at an Executive Connect Leadership Forum in Nairobi. It runs for one year and sits within Absa’s NextGen offering under its Consumer Banking business, a product line the bank built specifically for young professionals and entrepreneurs. What the Partnership Actually Delivers The core commitment is a series of monthly sessions, co-created by both organisations,…

Diageo has appointed John Musunga as Managing Director, Africa, effective 1 July 2026. The move reinforces the company’s long term commitment to the continent as a strategic growth market. Musunga steps into the role after a career spanning more than 25 years across Africa, Europe and Asia, including nearly two decades in chief executive and senior leadership positions within and outside Diageo. He has built a track record for driving business transformation, accelerating growth and leading high performing teams in complex operating environments. A Career Built Across Diageo’s African Markets Most recently, Musunga served as Managing Director for Diageo’s South,…

Airtel Kenya has a new Managing Director. The Board of Airtel Networks Kenya Limited has appointed Djibril Tobe to lead the telecom operator, taking over from Ashish Malhotra, who steps up to become Chief Executive Officer of Indus Towers Africa. Under Malhotra, Airtel Kenya pushed through the largest network expansion in its history, rolled out 5G and eSIM technology, and turned Airtel Money from a minor player into a genuine challenger in mobile payments. Tobe inherits a company with real momentum, and the question now is whether he can keep it building. A Telecom Veteran With Regional Range Tobe brings…

Truphine Apondi, known online as Simply Apondi,arrived at the Bloggers Association of Kenya’s tenth anniversary gala as a finalist from Homa Bay. She left with two trophies and the night’s biggest headline. At the BAKE Awards 2026, held June 27 at Baraza Media Lab in Nairobi, she took home Best County Creator and Creator of the Year, ending the suspense that had built since last year’s unprecedented tie. A County Creator Becomes The Main Story Twelve months earlier, the Creator of the Year title split between The JoyRide Podcast and Sarah Njoroge, the first tie in the award’s history. Leo…

Sidian Bank has now claimed awards at the Think Business Insurance Awards for three consecutive years, reinforcing its standing as one of Kenya’s most competitive bancassurance intermediaries. At the 2026 ceremony, Sidian Bancassurance took home recognition across three categories: 1st Runners-Up: Overall Best Bancassurance Intermediary in Kenya 2nd Runners-Up: Best Bancassurance Intermediary in Non-Life and Non-Embedded Products 2nd Runners-Up: Best Bancassurance Intermediary in Technology Application A Track Record Built Year by Year The 2026 wins build on a consistent pattern of recognition. At the 2025 awards, Sidian Bancassurance earned 1st Runner-Up for Best in Non-Life and Non-Embedded Products, 1st Runner-Up…