The CEO of East Africa’s most profitable company, Bob Collymore, is happy with the progress Safaricom has made in the last nine years. The company has evolved from a purely telecommunications firm to a tech giant offering a wide variety of services such as digital lending, money transfer and e-commerce.
In an interview with the African Business Magazine, Mr Collymore said that Safaricom’s success is due to their ability to link consumers to opportunities. “It’s not just about having a chat. The phrase we use is connecting people to people, to knowledge, and opportunity,” said Mr. Bob Collymore.
Mr. Collymore regrets not expanding into regional markets.
“My biggest regret is that we haven’t moved forwards into other parts of Africa,” he told the Magazine. “I’m a little bit of a timid merger and acquisition guy; I’m not the sort of person who wants to rush out there.”
Mr Bob plans to step down in August 2020.
Asked about his successor, Mr. Bob Collymore said that Safaricom’s board will interview international and local candidates and pick the most competent person to succeed him, regardless of nationality.
