Kenya Airways chairman Michael Joseph has been appointed Safaricom chief executive following the death of Bob Collymore. Safaricom announced on Tuesday that Joseph, a former CEO of Safaricom, will hold the position until the Safaricom board permanent replacement is found.
“Following the passing on of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Robert (Bob) William Collymore on 1 July 2019, at a Special Board meeting of the Directors’ that was held on even date, the Board resolved to appoint Mr Michael Joseph, a Board member of the Company, as the interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company with immediate effect,” the company said.
Safaricom isn’t strange territory for Joseph. Besides being a board member, he has been credited with turning around the mobile services company during his tenure before giving way to Collymore in 2010 when he retired after 10 years at the helm.
Joseph was the CEO of Safaricom Limited from July 2000 when the company was re-launched as a joint-venture between Vodafone UK and Telkom Kenya until his retirement in November 2010.
“The board is confident that during this transition, Mr Joseph will provide the necessary guidance and leadership to the company and its employees,” Company Secretary Kathryne Maundu said in a statement.
Mr Collymore, 61, whose tenure was extended by a year was cut short after succumbing to cancer on early Monday morning. He was battling cancer for close to two years and spent nine months in the UK receiving treatment for his ailment.
Statement from Safaricom
APPOINTMENT OF AN INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Following the passing on of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Robert (Bob) William Collymore on 1 July 2019, at a Special Board meeting of the Directors’ that was held on even date, the Board resolved to appoint Mr. Michael Joseph, a Board member of the Company, as the interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company with immediate effect.
Mr. Joseph will hold this position until the Board communicates in due course, on a permanent appointment.
Mr. Joseph is a former CEO of the Company and the current Chairman of the Board of Kenya Airways.
The Board is confident that during this transition, Mr. Joseph will provide the necessary guidance and leadership to the Company and its employees.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
KATHRYNE MAUNDU
COMPANY SECRETARY
1 July 2019
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