NSE, Standard Group Appoint Catherine Kawira as Company Secretary
The Nairobi Securities Exchange and Standard Group PLC have appointed Catherine Kawira Bariu as Company Secretary at both institutions effective 1 April 2026, replacing Millicent Ngetich who held the role concurrently at both entities. Ngetich, a certified secretary and advocate with over 17 years of experience, served at Standard Group since 2015 and added the NSE role in January 2025. Kawira, formerly of Image Registrars, brings over a decade of experience in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and legal advisory, including prior stints at the Judiciary and the Capital Markets Authority.
The Standard Group Confirms Chaacha Mwita as CEO, Fifth Leader in Three Years
Standard Group PLC has confirmed Chaacha Mwita as substantive Chief Executive Officer effective 1 April 2026, ending a nine-month acting arrangement. Mwita, who was forced out of the company in 2014 after clashing with State House over editorial coverage, rejoined as Chief Executive Editor in April 2025 before being elevated to Acting CEO in July 2025. He is the company's fifth CEO in under three years. The appointment comes as Standard Group fights to save six broadcasting licences after a tribunal cleared the Communications Authority to revoke them over Ksh48.87 million in unpaid regulatory fees.Britam Appoints Celestine Munda as Interim Chair, Moves to Triple Employee Share Pool
Britam Holdings Plc has appointed Celestine Munda, a former Senior Partner and Country Managing Partner at Ernst and Young Kenya, as interim Chairperson of the Board with immediate effect following the passing of Chairman Kuria Muchiru on 19 March 2026. Munda, who has chaired Britam's Board Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee since joining the board in September 2022, will serve until a substantive appointment is made. At the same sitting, the board resolved to seek shareholder approval to expand its Employee Share Ownership Plan from 2% to 5% of issued share capital, lifting the maximum ESOP pool from 50.5 million to 126.2 million shares, with all acquisitions to be made via open market purchases on the NSE.KCB Kenya Appoints Peter Ng'eno as New Corporate Banking Director
KCB Group has appointed Peter Kipkorir Ng’eno as the Director Corporate Banking-KCB Bank Kenya, with effect from March 27, 2026, succeeding John Okulo
Sidian Bank Taps KCB's John Okulo as CEO to Steer Kenya's Fastest-Growing Bank
Sidian Bank has appointed John Okulo, currently Director of Corporate Banking at KCB Bank Kenya, as its new Managing Director and CEO effective 1 May 2026, subject to CBK approval. He succeeds Chege Thumbi, who retires on 30 June 2026 after nine years. The transition completes a full governance overhaul: former Cabinet Secretary James Macharia replaced Centum's James Mworia as chairman in October 2025, three new directors joined the board, and Centum exited entirely in March 2026. Okulo brings 28 years of experience across Standard Chartered, Stanbic, NCBA, and KCB, including founding NC Bank Uganda.Williamson Tea's CEO Transition Marks 10th Listed C-Suite Shift in a Year
Williamson Tea Kenya and Kapchorua Tea Kenya have announced the retirement of Alan Carmichael as Managing Director and CEO effective 31 March 2026, ending an 18-year tenure and a career spanning five decades in the tea industry. His successor, Angus Nyariki Omete, takes over on 1 April 2026. Omete joined the company as a graduate trainee in November 1999 and has spent his entire 26-year career within the group, rising to Group Chief Financial Officer. The transition is the 10th top-level leadership change at an NSE-listed company in the past 12 months.AfrexInsure Appoints Lesley Ndlovu as New CEO
EABL Appoints Diageo Insider Justin Mollel as CFO With Asahi Takeover Months Away
East African Breweries has appointed Justin Mollel, Finance Director at Diageo Ireland, as Group CFO Designate from May 2026, taking full charge in July. He succeeds Risper Ohaga, the first African woman to hold the role, who exits to become Group CEO of APA Apollo Group. The appointment is the latest in a series of Diageo network placements at EABL as its parent completes a $2.3 billion sale of its 65% stake to Japan's Asahi Group, expected to close in H2 2026.KenGen Trims Board by a Third in Governance Overhaul
KenGen has become the first state-owned enterprise to restructure its board under Kenya's Government Owned Enterprises Act 2025, cutting directors from 14 to 9 and triggering the exit of three independent non-executive directors, including Board Chairman Hon. Alfred Agoi Masadia. Shareholders approved the changes at an EGM on 12th February 2026, introducing a Class A and B share structure that ring-fences minority investor voting on independent director elections. The reconstituted board must elect its own chairperson from among independent directors, ending the era of government-appointed chairsKenya Airways Overhauls Board as Search for New CEO Intensifies
Kenya Airways appointed Kiprono Kittony as chairman as economist David Ndii, corporate strategist Chris Diaz and finance scholar Winnie Nyamute join the airline’s board in a leadership overhaul. The appointments come as the loss-making carrier advances its turnaround strategy and searches for a strategic investor following a profit warning, aircraft groundings and the exit of former CEO Allan Kilavuka.BAT Kenya MD and CFO Exit After Record KSh 70/share Dividend
British American Tobacco Kenya has announced a leadership transition days after declaring a record KSh 70 per share dividend for 2025. Managing Director Crispin Achola will exit in June 2026, while Finance Director Philemon Kipkemoi steps down in March. The board has appointed internal executives Sidney Wafula and Catherine Chepkong’a as successors, signalling continuity amid illicit trade pressure and stable earnings.APA Insurance's Parent Company Taps EABL CFO Risper Ohaga to Lead Next Growth Phase
Financial services conglomerate APA Apollo, the parent company of APA Insurance, has appointed Risper Ohaga to succeed Ashok Shah, who has led the company for fifty years, as CEO
