The Safaricom Board has announced changes in its management. In a notice dated Thursday, January 16, 2025, the company announced the appointment of Edward Okaro as an Independent Non-Executive Director.
“The Board of Safaricom PLC is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Edward Okaro as an Independent Non-Executive Director, effective January 15, 2025,” read part of the notice.
Okaro is an audit professional with over thirty (30) years of experience in financial management, audit, and strategic risk management.
Safaricom appoints Edward Okaro
He previously worked with Ernst and Young for twenty-six (26) years, rising to the position of Director and later Partner in Ernst and Young Africa Risk Services.
He is a Fellow Certified Public Accountant (FCPA) from the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and a member of the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA).
This announcement has been issued with the approval of the Capital Markets Authority (CMA) pursuant to the Capital Markets (Public Offers, Listing and Disclosures) Regulations, 2023.
As a matter of policy, the CMA assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of the statement appearing in this announcement.
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Okaro’s appointment comes months after Rose Ogega resigned as an Independent Non-Executive Director from the telecommunications company. Ogega resigned from her position on Friday, November 29, 2024.
She served as an Independent Non-Executive Director from February 12, 2019, and provided valuable service to the Board for more than five years.
She has extensive experience spanning over 25 years, advising and managing both large, complex organizations and emerging startup ventures.
With the addition of Okaro, Safaricom now has three Independent Non-Executive Directors (INEDs).
Other INEDs working at the giant Telecommunication company
The other INEDs are Professor Bitange Ndemo, a noted ICT industry expert who currently serves as Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, and Winnie Ouko, the founder and CEO of Lattice Consulting, a Kenya-based boutique advisory firm and member of Larive International, committed to driving client growth through strategy, financial advisory, and corporate training.
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INEDs are tasked with providing independent oversight of the executive team, including monitoring the company’s management performance, offering constructive feedback when necessary, and ensuring that the company’s strategic direction aligns with its long-term goals and shareholder interests.
While they are not involved in the day-to-day operations, they play a crucial role in decision-making processes at the board level, contributing significantly to the company’s strategic development by bringing external perspectives and broader industry insights.
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