CIC Taps Ex-Google Boss Recognized Among Top 25 CEOs

CIC Insurance Group Plc has announced the appointment of a new non-executive director. The company, in a notice issued on Thursday, October 2, confirmed the appointment of Agnes Wairimu Gathaiya as an Independent Non-Executive Director, effective September 30, 2025.

Gathaiya is the immediate former Country Director for Google East Africa and boasts over 30 years of executive leadership experience across technology, finance, and governance.

Over the course of her career, she has held senior roles at Deloitte Consulting, SAP, Chase Bank, and Safaricom, among others, and currently serves on the boards of the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, Simba Corporation, and One Acre Fund.

CIC Insurance Group appoints new Independent Non-Executive Director

According to CIC, her appointment signals a strategic move to strengthen the Group’s leadership with expertise in digital transformation and governance.

“The Board warmly welcomes Ms. Gathaiya and looks forward to her contributions in strategy, governance, and technology leadership as CIC Insurance continues to advance its mission of enabling financial freedom,” the company said in the announcement.

Taking to her LinkedIn following the appointment, Agnes reflected on the personal and professional journey that led to this new chapter in her career. She further acknowledged the appointment but underscored her alignment with CIC’s mission and future-facing outlook.

“Very proud and honored to be on every board I now sit on. The latest one encapsulates values that I hold dear. ‘Think big, act, stay humble.’ Looking forward to contributing to the governance of CIC Group as a non-executive (independent) Director,” she said.

Gathaiya’s appointment comes months after she announced her departure from Google, where she served as Country Director for East Africa for over four years.

Sharing the news on LinkedIn in January this year, she reflected on her incredible journey at the tech giant and hinted at embarking on a new chapter in her career.

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Her tenure at Google marked significant contributions to the region’s digital ecosystem.

“I am immensely grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and proud of the accomplishments we’ve achieved as a region fully supported by amazing colleagues worldwide. We drove 8X commercial growth, enhanced Google’s brand and reputation in the market, and fostered a culture of camaraderie, trust, and well-being within our rapidly growing team,” Agnes said.

Profile of Agnes Gathaiya

Before she joined Google, she was the Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Payment Services Limited (IPSL), popularly known as Pesalink —a real-time payment switch connecting 42 banks and enabling their customers to make instant payments anytime, anywhere, affordably, and securely.

Agnes has also served on the boards of United Way – Kenya, African Women in Fintech and Payments and the Payments Association of Kenya.

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She holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Bryn Mawr College (USA) and a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) from United States International University (USIU) in collaboration with Columbia University.

Gathaiya is also a Certified Corporate Governance Professional and an alumna of Harvard’s Women in Leadership Program.

Her leadership and integrity have earned her multiple recognitions, including being named among the Top 25 CEOs Leading with Integrity and Ethics (2025).

She has also been featured in the Top 25 Most Powerful Women in the C-Suite (2021) and the Top 200 Women in Fintech (2019).

Agnes has also been through the Harvard University Women in Leadership program and was recognized in 2010 by Business Daily as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Women in the country. She is blessed with a daughter.

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