Former CEO Michael Joseph has been installed as interim CEO of the telco until Collymore’s replacement is found.
The late CEO succumbed to cancer at his home, and was cremated yesterday, Tuesday, July 2, just a day later.
The move spurred discussion online as to whether Safaricom’s next CEO will be a Kenyan citizen.
This would be a first for the company but is unlikely to happen.
In an interview with local media, Interim CEO Michael Joseph explained that none of the top managers at the telecom giant is ready to fill the void.
Mr. Joseph said, “Safaricom is a very special company, you just don’t put anybody a CEO because they are there. It has to be somebody special who could continue the role. At this point we (the board) thought that none of the ex-com (Executive Committee) were ready for this role today.”
He added that the CEO position is extremely sensitive and can not just be handed to anyone; hence the decision to fall back on him instead of picking from sitting members of Safaricom’s Executive Committee.
Related article: Safaricom appoints former CEO Michael Joseph as interim CEO
In other news, Safaricom has announced that it will be closing all Safaricom retail shops across the country on Thursday, July 4, 2019, in honor of the telco’s late CEO Bob Collymore.
The shops will close for four hours between 10.30am to 2.30pm, within which a memorial service will be held at All Saints Cathedral.
The service will be open to the public and attendees are expected to be seated by 10am.
The late Collymore leaves behind a wife and four children.
