mPharma, the Pan-African healthcare-technology company known for innovating in medicine supply, has confirmed a major leadership transition. Effective September 1, 2025, Kwesi Arhin, FCCA, becomes CEO, replacing co-founder Gregory Rockson, who is stepping down from the role.
This appointment is notable: Kwesi Arhin is the first non-founder to lead mPharma since its inception in 2014, marking a milestone in the company’s maturity. Arhin previously served as Chief Operating Officer, giving him operational experience across finance, strategy, and execution.
Gregory Rockson’s Legacy
Under Gregory Rockson’s leadership, mPharma scaled quickly across Sub-Saharan Africa, expanding its reach through multiple business units such as retail, wholesale, diagnostics, and the Mutti pharmacy franchise model. The company built a network of pharmacies and medicine vendors, introduced Bloom (its inventory and pharmacy management software), and launched programs to improve access, affordability, and quality of medicines.
Rockson’s tenure was marked by bold expansion and by turning mPharma into one of Africa’s most recognized health-tech brands. His decision to step down signals a shift toward a new phase focused more on operational scale-up and efficiency.
mPharma’s Fundraising Journey
mPharma’s growth story has been fueled by a steady stream of investor confidence. Since its founding, the company has raised close to $95 million across multiple funding rounds, making it one of the best-funded startups in Africa’s health-tech sector.
- In 2019, mPharma secured a Series B round of about $9.7 million.
- In 2020, the company raised roughly $17 million to strengthen its supply chain and technology.
- In January 2022, mPharma announced its largest raise yet: $35 million (including $30M in equity and $5M in debt) in a Series D round. This brought its total to about $65M at that time.
This significant capital base has allowed mPharma to expand aggressively across multiple African countries, build out its Mutti franchise, and solidify its reputation as a key player in healthcare access.
What This Change Means
As COO, Kwesi Arhin has already been in the thick of logistics, finance, and process optimization, suggesting his leadership will lean into tightening operations, boosting margins, and delivering stronger business discipline.
Arhin’s Profile & Strengths
Kwesi Arhin, a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), brings a strong financial and operational background to the CEO role. He oversaw mPharma’s supply chain and financial systems, ensuring its expansion was backed with governance and sustainable best practices.
What Stakeholders Should Watch For
- Operational Efficiency: Will inventory, logistics, and digital tools become sharper under Arhin?
- Sustainable Growth: Expect a shift from pure expansion to consolidating profitability.
- Leadership Culture: Moving from founder-driven vision to process-driven execution.
- Investor Confidence: With nearly $95M raised to date, stakeholders will demand clear ROI, sharper KPIs, and stronger financial discipline.
Conclusion
Kwesi Arhin’s elevation to CEO marks a pivotal moment for mPharma. It reflects the company’s evolution from a founder-led startup to a structured, institution-like player. As Gregory Rockson steps back, Arhin’s success will hinge on converting scale into sustainable impact. For patients, pharmacies, and investors across mPharma’s footprint in Africa, the key question now is: can the company continue its momentum under new leadership, balancing operational discipline with the bold vision that has defined its journey so far?
