Safaricom raids KCB in top management shakeup

Telecommunications firm Safaricom has announced changes in its top tier management. In a statement that was released by chief executive officer Peter Ndegwa, Safarcom has appointed Esther Masese Waititu as the new Chief Financial Services Officer effective 21st February 2023.

Masese is joining Safaricom from KCB Bank Group, where she has been the Director, Corporate Banking since 2021.

“She will be responsible for providing strategic leadership and oversight to Safaricom’s Financial Services Business. She will lead financial services tribes and teams, through the development of financial products, services and solutions for consumers and enterprises,” said Ndegwa in the statement.

Prior to joining KCB, Esther was at Stanbic for 10 years, having joined the bank in 2011 as a Regional Product Head – Transactional Products and Services, East Africa. In 2017, she was promoted to Executive, Strategy Development and Enablement in the Corporate and Investment Bank before taking up the role of Country Head, Client Coverage, Stanbic Bank Zambia, in 2020.

Esther worked at Standard Chartered Bank for 5 years, between 2006 and 2011 in Relationship Management and Product Management capacities, and at Commercial Bank of Africa (which merged with NIC Bank to form NCBA) where she began her banking career.

She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of East Africa, Baraton and a Master of Business Administration from University of Liverpool, UK. She is also an AoEC Accredited Executive Coach.

Peter Ndegwa breaks his silence on quiting as Safaricom CEO

At the same time, Safaricom has appointed Boniface Mungania the Director – Public Sector Digital Transformation effective 1st April 2023. Boniface has been the acting Chief Financial Services Officer since July 2022. He joined Safaricom in 2007 as a Customer Care Representative and was soon promoted to a Dealer Account Manager.

The company also announced the appointment of Zizwe Awuor Vundla as the Director – Brand and Marketing effective 1st February 2023. She will join Safaricom from Diageo, South Africa where she has been the Head of Marketing and Innovation since 2019.