There is confusion at Standard Group over the appointment of Joseph Odindo as Editorial Director after a meeting called to introduce him to top managers and editors early today was cancelled at the last minute.
It is understood that the high profile appointment, published today in The Standard newspaper, was announced by Standard Group CEO Sam Shollei before it was approved by the board putting him at loggerheads with a board that has him working on borrowed time. After making the announcement to staff yesterday, Mr Odindo was to be officially introduced to senior management today morning and later to the rest of the staff.
Mr Odindo, who started working yesterday, reported early today morning in time for the meeting at 9am, where he was met by Mr Shollei. As the other managers and editors trickled in one by one, Mr Shollei phone rung and he promptly walked out of the boardroom to talk in private. A few moments later, he returned to cancel the meeting without explanation.
“It’s total confusion,” said a senior manager at the Standard. “Odindo went back to his office and we haven’t heard any communication.”
BusinessToday is informed that the caller was a board member who had just learnt of the appointment in the newspaper and summoned the CEO (pictured left) for an explanation. Mr Odindo is a former Nation Media Group insider – leaving last year as Editorial Director at Nation Media Group – as is Mr Shollei who was poached from Nation Centre in 2012.
Sources at Standard’s head offices on Mombasa Road say Mr Shollei took it upon himself to make the appointment, a move that has not gone down well with some board members. A number of them are uncomfortable with Odindo, who is known to be an independent editor.
Related: Former Nation insider picked to head Standard editorial team
It is not hard to understand why. Standard Group is principally owned by Daniel arap Moi’s family and being a media house, is one of the most important businesses in the empire, which family members use to influence public opinion and promote their interests. Mr Moi forced Uhuru into politics and lined him up as his successor in the 2002 presidential elections in which he was beaten by Mwai Kibaki of the defunct NARC.
It is baptism of fire for Mr Odindo, regarded as one of the most experienced editorial managers in the country. He has been watching Standard’s perennial musical chairs from a distance and now finds himself at the centre of Kenya’s oldest media house’s politics.
His appointment is being closely watched, coming as it does, just two years to the next general elections.
See also: Standard Group set for massive losses in full-year results
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