Kenya’s largest retail chain, Naivas Supermarkets, has announced Andreas von Paleske will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO), succeeding founding CEO David Kimani, who is stepping down after 35 years at the helm.
- •Von Paleske joined Naivas in 2017 as Chief Strategy Officer, a role he has held for eight years.
- •The appointment marks the first time a non-family executive will lead Naivas.
- •The company said the move is part of a long-term succession plan focused on stability, institutional growth, and preservation of its culture.
Ownership of Naivas has evolved in recent years. In 2022, a consortium led by Mauritius-based IBL Group, alongside Proparco and DEG, acquired a 40% stake in Naivas International, buying out earlier investors Amethis, IFC, and MCB.
As head of strategy, Von Paleske has helped guide the retailer’s rapid expansion, streamline operations, and manage investor relations through successive capital raises.
Before joining Naivas, von Paleske worked in private equity and consumer investments, including senior roles at Actis and Lion Capital. He co-founded Africa Platform Capital LLP, an investment advisory firm focused on consumer and healthcare sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics.
Within Naivas International, the Mauritius-based holding company, he has served as a board director since 2022.
David Kimani will remain engaged with the business as a board adviser and continue to guide operations alongside the Mukuha family. Under his leadership, Naivas transformed from a small family-run store in Nakuru, founded in 1990, into a dominant national supermarket chain and Kenya’s top retailer by market share.
The Mukuha family has retained a majority shareholding and board control.
