Andreas von Paleske is a seasoned investment and retail executive with over 20 years of experience in the consumer and retail sectors across Africa, Europe, and emerging markets.
On October 7, Andreas von Paleske, currently serving as Chief Strategy Officer, was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), succeeding David Kimani Mukuha.
Educational Background
Andreas holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School from 2003 to 2005.
Additionally, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), earned between 1997 and 2000.
Andreas von Paleske Career Journey
Before his new appointment, he worked as Chief Strategy Officer since April 2017. During his tenure, he has worked across multiple functional areas to institutionalize the business, strengthen corporate governance, and spearhead growth initiatives that positioned Naivas as Kenya’s number one supermarket chain.
Under his leadership, Naivas successfully executed its first external capital transactions, attracting investment from Amethis Private Equity (which exited in 2022) and later from the Mauritius-based conglomerate IBL.
These landmark deals marked the retailer’s entry into a new era of strategic growth and regional competitiveness.
Also Read: Naivas Supermarket Announces New CEO
He is also a Board Member of Naivas International, the holding company for Naivas Supermarkets, overseeing the chain’s regional strategy and governance.
Since August 2022, Andreas has also served as a Board Member at Naivas International, the holding company for Naivas Supermarkets, which oversees the brand’s expansion strategy across East Africa.
Also Read: The Billionaires of Kenya: David Kimani Mukuha, Tycoon Behind the Naivas Supermarket
Other Roles Before Joining Naivas
Before joining Naivas, Andreas held several senior roles in global investment firms.
He was Founding Partner at Africa Platform Capital LLP (2016–2017), a specialist private equity firm focused on the consumer and healthcare sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Earlier, he served as Global Head of Consumer at Actis (2013–2016), where he led investments across emerging markets, including Africa, India, China, and Latin America.
His earlier career includes an eight-year tenure at Lion Capital (2005–2013), where he worked as Director and held Non-Executive Director roles at several major consumer brands, including Ad van Geloven, Findus Group, Wagamama, and Kettle Foods UK.
Andreas began his career in finance at UBS Investment Bank (2000–2003) as an Associate before transitioning into private equity.
In 2013, Andreas volunteered as an Advisor to Self-Unlimited (now HFT) through the Cranfield Trust, a charity supporting non-profits. He helped the organization, which empowers adults with learning disabilities, to develop a business plan and commercialize its apple juice venture.
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