The Standard Group Chief Executive Officer Chaacha Mwita has announced his resignation, effective November 1, 2026.
In a notice seen on October 16, the company thanked him for his contributions and wished him success in his future endeavours.
Mwita was substantively appointed to the position in April 2026 after serving as acting CEO from July 1, 2025.
He took over the acting role following the resignation of Marion Gathoga-Mwangi, who left the position effective June 30, 2025, after serving for about a year.
“Pursuant to the provisions of Paragraph 10 of the Thirteenth Schedule of the The Capital Markets (Public Offers, Listings, and Disclosures) Regulations, 2023, the Board of Directors of The Standard Group PLC (“the Company”) wishes to notify its shareholders and the general public of the resignation of Mr Chaacha Mwita, as Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director of the Company, effective 1 November 2026,” read part of the announcement.
“The Board takes this opportunity to express its sincere appreciation to Mr. Chaacha for his dedication and invaluable contribution to the Company. The Board wishes him every success and the very best in his future endeavors.”
His resignation adds to a series of recent departures from Standard Group’s leadership, with several directors leaving the company this month.
Chaacha Mwita Career and Educational Background
Chaacha Mwita has more than 20 years of experience in journalism, media management, strategic advocacy and communication, with expertise spanning local and international markets.
He has contributed to strengthening newsroom editorial capacity across Africa, with a focus on media sustainability, business models and specialisation. His work has included conducting media assessments in Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, Eswatini, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania and Uganda.
Throughout his career, Mwita has held leadership positions at several organisations, including Standard Group PLC, Nation Media Group, Aga Khan Foundation, the African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC) and the Thomson Foundation in the United Kingdom.
At Standard Group, he previously served as Editorial Director before leaving the role in 2014. He later joined the company’s board as a Non-Executive Director in July 2023, stepped down temporarily in August 2024, then returned to executive management.
Also Read: Standard Group Loses Two Board Directors in Fresh Resignations
Beyond newsroom leadership, Mwita has contributed to international media and economic policy initiatives.
He served on the Africa Means Business Advisory Panel under the Thomson Foundation and worked with institutions including the University of Oxford’s Centre for the Study of African Economies, the African Economic Research Consortium, Strathmore Business School and the University of Ghana.
His academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree and a postgraduate diploma in Mass Communication from the University of Nairobi. He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of St Gallen in Switzerland.
Also Read: Standard Group Appoints Three New Directors After Resignations
Standard Group Financials
He leaves the company amid continued financial challenges. Standard Group PLC reported a net loss of Ksh133 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, down from Ksh200 million recorded during the same period in 2024.
The media company’s revenue fell 25 per cent to Ksh789 million, driven by weaker advertising sales and fewer government contracts.
However, operating costs fell by 26 per cent to Ksh879 million, while finance costs dropped by 17 per cent to Ksh52 million, helping reduce its pre-tax loss by about a third.
Despite the lower net loss, the company’s total comprehensive loss stood at Ksh133 million, compared with Ksh112 million a year earlier, following the absence of a tax credit.
Standard Group expressed cautious optimism that cost-cutting measures, improved operational efficiency and digital growth could support a sustainable recovery.
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