Mumias Sugar Company board of directors on Friday confirmed the appointment of Mr Nashon Aseka as the chief executive officer. It’s a major comeback for Aseka, who once worked as a factory manager before moving to the Agriculture and Food Authority’s Sugar Directorate.
“This is to announce to the general public that the Board of Directors has appointed Mr Nashon Aseka as the Chief Executive Officer of Mumias Sugar Company Limited effective 15th June 2017. Nashon has a vast experience in the sugar industry spanning over 35 years,” read a statement signed by board chairman Kennedy Mulwa.
Mr Mulwa said the appointment was done after a competitive recruitment process, adding that Mr Aseka was already in the office and was well received by both the staff and the farmers.
In April, Mr Aseka was rejected by Nzoia Sugar cane farmers after he was appointed to head the miller. Mr Mulwa said the same scenario was not anticipated in his new role at Mumias Sugar. “Farmers in Nzoia are different from farmers in Mumias. I am confident he will deliver as he has worked here before,” Mr Mulwa said.
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Mr Aseka has also worked in Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology and at the defunct Sugar Board. Mr Errol Johnston, who was previously at the helm of the miller, went for a terminal leave before the end of his two year renewable term in August.
The management transition comes shortly after a recent board overhaul which saw the entry of Mr Mulwa, replacing Dan Ameyo. Mr Ameyo opted not put himself up for re-election during the Mumias annual general meeting held in December 2016.
The loss-making miller has gulped Ksh2 billion from the government in bailouts without any major success according to its financial results. The listed firm reported a half-year net loss of Sh2.92 billion in the period to December 2016, an 87.07 per cent dip compared to Sh1.56 billion the previous year.
The firm has also given a profit warning with earnings expected to drop by more than 25 per cent for the year ending June 2017 from its Sh4.73 billion loss reported last year.
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