Radio Africa Group was founded by Ghanaian-Kenyan businessman Patrick Quarcoo alongside Kiprono Kittony , the current Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) and businessman William Pike.
Established in 2000, Radio Africa Group has become a leading private media company in Kenya and is the owner of Kiss 100 FM, Classic 105, Radio Jambo, East FM, The Star newspaper, and Bamba TV.
As of 2019, Tiso Blackstar Group, a South African media firm, held a 49% stake in Radio Africa Group.
However, that year, Tiso Blackstar sold its media assets, including its stake in Radio Africa, to Lebashe Investment Group, another South African investment firm.
Quarcoo, Pike, and Kittony own the remaining shares.
Patrick Quarcoo
Quarcoo served as CEO of Radio Africa Group from 2000 until his retirement in July 2024.
He was succeeded by Martin Khafafa, who previously held the position of Chief Operating Officer at the company.
He studied for a BSc in Administration, Marketing/Marketing Management at the University of Ghana from 1977 to 1980 and obtained a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in International Marketing, Corporate Strategy, and Finance from Manchester Business School.
In 2017, Quarcoo completed the Senior Executive Programme at Harvard University.
William Pike Role at Radio Africa Group
Pike held various positions at Radio Africa and other media houses before his retirement, serving as the Group’s Convergence Director from 2013 to October 2024.
He is currently the Managing Director of Capital Radio Uganda and was also the CEO of The Star Publications from April 2007 to September 2013.
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Previously, he worked as the Editor-in-Chief at New Vision Printing and Publishing Corporation, having begun his career as an assistant editor at Public Service and Local Government in 1978.
In 1982, he was appointed editor of Quantity Surveyor Weekly, 4 Hammersmith Road, London W14, and that same year, Pike worked as a freelance journalist in Tanzania.
From January 1983 to June 1984, Pike served as Africa Correspondent for South Magazine.
Kiprono Kittony
Kiprono Kittony is a prominent figure in Kenya’s business leadership circles, having served in numerous capacities.
He is the immediate former President of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the premier business membership organisation in Kenya, and is widely credited with reviving the institution, restoring it to its former prominence through a series of transformative initiatives during his tenure.
Kittony chairs several boards, including CreditInfo CRB Kenya Limited, Mtech Limited, and Radio Africa Group.
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He is also a member of the advisory council of the International Fund for Health in Africa (IFHA), a private equity fund based in Amsterdam, and serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the World Chamber Federation in Paris, representing Africa.
In addition, Kittony is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Capital Realtime Limited, a Safaricom dealership.
He holds degrees in Bachelor of Commerce (Hons), Bachelor of Law, and a Global Executive MBA from USIU-Africa.
In 2019, he was awarded the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear (EBS) by President Uhuru Kenyatta in recognition of his distinguished and outstanding services to the nation as a business leader.
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