Microsoft ADC Boss Jack Ngare Leaves Firm After Big Launch

Microsoft Africa Development Centre (ADC) Managing Director Jack Ngare on Monday, April 25 announced his exit from the company.

He joined Microsoft ADC in 2019. Ngare’s exit comes just weeks after the launch of a major new ADC facility in Nairobi at an event attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta on March 24.

The centre will have 450 full-time employees. It focuses on empowering African developers and engineers to build tech-driven solutions for challenges on the continent while also offering global scalability.

Ngare confirmed his exit in a message shared on social media on Monday, April 25.

“It has been a lifechanging few years at Microsoft putting Kenya and Africa on the global software engineering map. The future is bright for all. Young and old (yes you are never too old). Its hard for me to put it all in words,” he wrote alongside a drawing of him waving goodbye.

Hinting at a career move, he noted ‘a new adventure begins’.

Prior to joining Microsoft ADC, Ngare ran Finserve Africa, Equity Group’s fintech division. Finserve operates the Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) Equitel among other services.

He has worked in several other organizations including Stanbic, NIC Bank and seven years with British Telecom in positions around the world.

His move comes even as global tech giants expand their presence in Kenya. The launch of the Microsoft ADC centre was followed closely by the announcement on the Google Product Development Centre in Nairobi which will be the first in Africa.

Visa also opened its innovation hub in Nairobi and AWS is setting up a local zone. The moves have triggered increased competition for tech talent.