In 2023, a number of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) for blue chip companies left their jobs, either to pursue other interests or by being unceremoniously pushed out.
Some CEOs left their companies in financial distress, others faced scandals and arrests while others left “silently” after “amicable” agreements with their employers.
Here’s a list of CEOs who left their jobs in 2023:
Michael Thuita
Michael Thuita, who served as the CEO of Athi Water Development Agency resigned in September 2023, marking his unceremonious exit after serving for five years.
Thuita resigned hours after his arrest by the Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission (EACC) over three multi-billion tenders.
The Head of Public Service Felix Koskei had ordered his suspension before he resigned.
Seddiq Hassani
Seddiq Hassani, who served as the Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bamburi Cement resigned from the company effective March 31, 2023.
Hassani was appointed to the Board on February 9, 2018.
The Board then appointed Mohit Kapoor as the new Group Chief Executive Officer of the company effective April 1, 2023.
Rebecca Mbithi
Family Bank announced the exit of their CEO Rebecca Mbithi in November 2023 after a five-year stint at the helm.
The bank announced that Mbithi was transitioning from the bank to “pursue other personal interests.”
Before ascending to the CEO position at Family Bank, she served the bank as the Company Secretary and Chief Legal Officer.
In her place, the lender appointed Nancy Njau as the new Managing Director and CEO.
Orlando Lyomu
After heading the Standard Media Group for five years, Orlando Lyomu was forced to resign following a series of loss-making records.
Lyomu was appointed as Standard Group’s CEO on May 25, 2018, replacing Sam Shollei who had tendered his resignation in September 2017.
Lyomu was the Group’s Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer before taking over as the boss.
In his place, Joe Munene, who was serving as the Managing Director of the Standard Group Broadcast Division, was appointed by the board as the acting CEO.
Githii Mburu
Githii Mburu, until his resignation in February 2023, served as Kenya Revenue Authority’s Commissioner General, the position equivalent to that of a CEO in KRA.
Mburu served at the helm for three years and seven months.
Following Mburu’s resignation, the Board appointed Advocate Rispah Simiyu to be the Acting KRA Commissioner General.
In August, National Treasury and Economic Planning Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung’u appointed Humphrey Wattanga as the new Commissioner General for KRA.
Nkoregamba Mwebesa
In September 2023, Nkoregamba Mwebesa resigned as the Chief Executive Officer of the Central Depository and Settlement Corporation (CDSC).
Mwebesa had served in the position for three years and five months.
In his place, CDSC General Manager for Business Support Services and Chief Finance Officer, Jesse Kagoma, was appointed effective September 1.
