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Britam CEO Postpones Retirement Amid Search for Successor

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Benson Wairegi’s stay in office was extended beyond the Britam CEO’s retirement date of December 31, 2020.

The move is reportedly meant to allow the company more time to recruit a suitable successor. Wairegi has worked at the Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed firm for 40 years.

Having previously spoken of his retirement plans, news of his contract extension came as a surprise to many.

The extension is expected to ensure a smooth transition as Wairegi hands over the mantle. The company may also be leveraging his expertise and track record as it looks to create value for shareholders.

Wairegi played a central role in Britam’s growth from a home service insurance company to a financial services giant with operations in 7 countries – Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, South Sudan, Mozambique and Malawi.

Britam CEO Benson Wairegi delivers a past address

Details including the duration of Wairegi’s contract extension remained unclear, with the insurer promising to name a new CEO in due course.

READ>>>>>Britam Sinks to Sh1.6bn Half-Year Loss

Britam has interests in asset management, life insurance, general insurance, health insurance, property and retirement planning.

Wairegi joined Britam in 1980 as a Chief Accountant, three years after starting out at PriceWaterhouseCoopers as an audit trainee.

A story is often told of how a Ksh600,000 set him on the path to financial success.

He was among Kenyans who capitalized when, in 1984, regulators directed that all foreign-owned insurance companies sell at least 33.3% shareholding to Kenyan nationals.

Wairegi took out a KSh600,000 personal mortgage against his house and bought a 3.3% stake in Britam.

When Britam’s share price hit highs of Ksh40 in 2014, Wairegi’s stake was worth Ksh1.7 billion.

READ>>>>>Britam Climbs Out of Negative Territory. Posts Sh3.5bn Profit

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MARTIN SIELEhttps://loud.co.ke/
Martin K.N Siele is the Content Lead at Business Today. He is also a Quartz contributor and a 2021 Baraza Media Lab-Fringe Graph Data Storytelling Fellow. Passionate about digital media, sports and entertainment, Siele also founded Loud.co.ke

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