Polycarp Igathe has worked for various companies locally and internationally, rising through the ranks but also quitting after short stints.
Before his February 23 appointment as the new Managing Directors of South African-based company Tiger Brands, Igathe was not jobless.
Tiger Brands is a food and consumer healthcare products company driving growth across 25 countries with five priority markets -Cameroon, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria.
Igathe was named among six other new appointees. He will serve as the head of the International Brands Unit.
“We are pleased to announce the internal appointment of six managing directors who will be leading our newly organized business units, following a review of our operating model and structure to enable consumer obsession, agile execution, and innovation,” the statement read in part.
Also Read: Igathe Leads Sakaja In Nairobi Gubernatorial Race
Polycarp’s career Journey
Igathe started the career in Australia in 1995, after her graduation from college. After serving for eighteen months in Queensland, he returned home to his country, where he was met with yet another opportunity.
He became a management trainee at Coca Cola Africa after quitting Queensland Health. Again, he worked for the company until 2000, at which point he quit to take on a new project.
Polycarp also worked with a service providence company in Africa. Africa Online was the largest Internet service provider on the continent when he joined.
He began as a Sales Operations Manager at East African Breweries and was then promoted to Marketing Manager.
Despite this, he was hired by the late business mogul Chris Kirubi to work at Haco Industries.
Igathe spent ten years working for Haco. This is the longest he has worked for a single employer to date.
After Haco was sold to a new owner, he moved out.
Igathe in other offices
He also functioned as the first managing director of Vivo Energy Kenya. Vivo purchased the Shell brand in 16 countries, at which point he was hired. Before leaving to enter politics in 2017, he was still working with Vivo.
After serving for just six months as Nairobi County Deputy Governor, he quit citing mistrust.
Upon his resignation, he became the Chief Commercial Officer of Equity Group. His brief tenure at Equity was followed by a second stint at Vivo Energy. He left Vivo once again after seven months.
Also Read: CS Chirchir Hints at Looming Record High Petrol Prices
Besides, Igathe has chaired a number of government and parastatal boards, such as the Special Economic Zones Authority of Kenya (2016) and Kenya Association of Manufacturers (2012).
Others include Petroleum Institute of East Africa (2014), Anti-Counterfeit Agency (2015), and Board of Management Bishop Gatimu Ngandu Girls (2010).
