Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa has created new positions in a power consolidation move after eight months at the helm of the region’s biggest telco by valuation.
Ndegwa has merged the Information Technology and Network departments to form the Technology and the Information Organization to be led by Chief Technology and Information Officer who will join the Safaricom exco.
In a statement, Ndegwa said, “In line with this intent, I have merged Information Technology and Network departments to form Technology and Information Organisation that will be led by the Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO).”
Safaricom’s first CTIO will be Morten Bangsgaard, the current Chief Technology and Information Officer of Malaysia’s telco, Maxis Berhad, starting January 1.
TechMoran.com is yet to establish the future of the current Chief Information Officer George Njuguna.
The firm has also merged the Fibre to the Home (FTTH) and Fibre to the Business (FTTB) departments to form the new Fixed Business Unit (FTTX) which will be led by a yet to be named Director who will report directly to the CEO.
Safaricom also created a new position dubbed Head of Productivity to drive cost optimization across the telco. The lead here will report to the Chief Financial Officer to drive more savings in its operations to fund additional initiatives to meet its objectives. This position is also yet to be filled.
Also, Rita Okuthe, Safaricom’s Chief Enterprise Business Officer Rita will be leaving the firm on November 30 as she has been appointed as Chairperson of Kenya Pipeline Company and a board member of the Industrial and Commercial Development Corporation. She will be replaced by Joseph Wanjohi who has been appointed the interim Chief Enterprise Business Officer, beginning December 1.
Ndegwa is pushing to have key employees report directly to him, and attend exco meetings in a move to bring efficiency and agility in the region’s most valued corporation.
Recently, Safaricom appointed new CFO Dilip Pal, the immediate former CFO at Thai telco DTAC to replace Illana Darcy who was in acting position after the departure of Sateesh Kamath in July. Kamath was promoted to Vodafone Business CFO.
These recent appointments follows the appointment of Dilip Pal, the immediate former CFO at DTAC, a Thai telco, who joined on November 1 as Safaricom’s new Chief Finance Officer.
Pal replaced Illana Darcy who had been holding the position in acting capacity since July 1 following the departure of Sateesh Kamath after he was promoted to Vodafone Business CFO.