• Michael Joseph is the former Chief Executive officer of Safaricom PLC, a position held from July 2, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
• The Chairman is responsible for the operation, leadership and governance of the Board, ensuring its effectiveness and setting its agenda.
Image: FILE
Safaricom has appointed Michael Joseph as its new board chairman.
This follows the retirement of Nicholas Nganga after 13 years at the helm of the board.
Safaricom chief executive officer Peter Ndegwa said Joseph takes over from August 1, 2020 with a mandate to 'improve customer sentiment, greater brand consideration and to bolster the firm's digital transformation agenda.'
"He brings a wealth of skills and industry knowledge given his contribution to the growth of Safaricom from very humble beginnings to becoming one of the most innovative, influential and profitable companies in the East African region," Ndegwa said in a statement on Thursday.
The chairman is responsible for the operation, leadership and governance of the Board, ensuring its effectiveness and setting its agenda.
Michael Joseph is the former Chief Executive officer of Safaricom PLC, a position held from July 2, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
He joined the board on September 8, 2008. Joseph is employed by Vodafone Group Services Limited as the Director of Mobile Money.
He is also Vodafone’s Strategic Advisor appointed to the Boards of Vodacom Group South Africa, Vodacom Tanzania and Vodacom Mozambique. He is also the Chairman of Kenya Airways.
Previously, Michael was the CEO of Safaricom Limited from July 2000 when the company was re-launched as a joint-venture between Vodafone UK and Telkom Kenya until his retirement in November 2010.
During his tenure, he steered the company from a subscriber base of less than 20,000 to over 16.71 million subscribers.
This phenomenal growth straddling nearly a decade was motored by the launch of many innovative products and services such as M-Pesa.
Today, Safaricom is one of the leading companies in East Africa and one of the most profitable companies in the region.
He also has an Honorary Doctorate degree (Doctor of Letters) from Africa Nazarene University, bestowed to him in recognition of his contribution to the growth of Safaricom from very humble beginnings to becoming one of the most innovative, influential and profitable company in the East African region.