Michael Joseph was Tuesday appointed as the interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Safaricom Public Limited Company (PLC) following Bob Collymore’s demise.
According to a press statement by Safaricom Board, Michael Joseph will hold this position until the Board communicates a permanent appointment in due course.
Michael Joseph who is currently the Chairman of the Board of Kenya Airways was the CEO of the Safaricom PLC before Bob Collymore took over in 2010.
Joseph, 67, joined the Safaricom board on September 8, 2008 and is employed by Vodafone Group Services Limited as the Director of Mobile Money.
Michael Joseph, is also Vodafone’s Strategic Advisor chosen to the Boards of Vodacom Group South Africa, Vodacom Tanzania, Vodacom Mozambique and Safaricom Limited in Kenya. During his tenure, he steered the company from a subscriber base of less than 20,000 to over 16.71 million subscribers.
According to the statement, a Special Board Meeting of the Directors’ Monday expressed their confidence in Joseph.
“The board is confident that during this transition, Joseph will provide the necessary guidance and leadership to the company and its employees,” Company Secretary Kathryne Maundu said in a statement.
Bob Collymore passed on Monday morning after battling cancer for two years. Collymore developed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and took a nine-month medical leave to undergo treatment in England. He returned to Kenya in July 2018 and resumed working for Safaricom.
In May 2019, Safaricom Board granted him a 1-year extension in office and he said he would spend the time helping the company diversify revenue streams from e-commerce and Digifarm.
During a press briefing on updates on Bob’s demise Monday, Safaricom Board chairman Nicholas Ng’ang’a said a public memorial service would be held in honour of the late Collymore during the course of the week.
“There will be a private interment process Tuesday and, hopefully Thursday or Friday, there will be a memorial service for all those who knew and cared for Bob,” said the Board Chair.
Rahab Wanjiru/Angelina Mutindi/ Wangari Ndirangu
