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Safaricom has today announced the retirement of Joseph Ogutu. Joe who has been with Safaricom for 17 years has been serving as the telco’s Chief of Special Projects and Acting Chief Business Development & Strategy Officer.
“I would like to bring to your attention the retirement of our long serving Exco member and a dear colleague to us all…Over the last 2 years, I have had the pleasure of working closely with Joe and I have come to rely on his advice, candid feedback, and support,” said Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa in a staff memo.
Joe has held several roles since joining Safaricom in May 2005 as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. In 2008 he was appointed to serve as Chief Human Resource Officer before taking on the role of Director – Resources, following a reorganization in March 2011.
In October 2012, he was appointed Director – Strategy & Innovation, where he worked closely with the CEO in formulating the strategic direction of the business with a focus on developing Safaricom’s position as an industry leader in driving innovation in products and services.
In his current role as Chief Special Projects and Acting Chief Business Development Officer, he was part of the team that coordinated the company’s successful bid for the second telecommunications license in Ethiopia.
He also effectively steered the company alongside our former CFO, Sateesh Kamath, when the late Bob Collymore was on medical leave, and has been the Chairman of Safaricom Foundation since 2012.
Joe’s experience in the communications industry spans more than 35 years of which the last 20 have been at the Executive Committee level. He is accredited with, among many other achievements, being actively involved in the reforming of the telecommunications sector and establishing the institutional framework for the Eastern Africa Submarine Cable System (EASSy).
Throughout his career, and indeed the 17 years he has been at Safaricom, Joe has built a reputation as an outstanding business leader, mentor and coach to many; qualities that we at Safaricom have benefitted greatly from.
The hallmark of Joe’s career and contribution to the success of Safaricom was his absolute willingness to step into an unexpected role whenever requested, even if it meant stretching his workload tremendously. All the CEOs of Safaricom, from Michael, to Bob through to myself, relied on Joe in many situations and he never failed to live up to our expectations.
– Peter Ndegwa, CEO Safaricom
Joe will continue to serve as the Chairman of Safaricom Foundation where he has been instrumental in driving partnerships that transform the lives of millions of people and enable communities to be self-sufficient.
Safaricom has at the same time announced the appointment of a new Chief Corporate Affairs Officer. Stephen Kiptinness will join the Waiyakiway Outfit from 1st May 2022.
Stephen joins Safaricom from Kiptinness & Odhiambo Associates LLP where he was a Senior Partner heading the Technology and Intellectual Property practice for the last 10 years. Before starting his practice, Stephen worked at Telkom Kenya Orange, heading Regulatory Affairs for 3 years, from 2009 to 2012.
Prior to his role at Telkom Orange, he held various legal roles including Legal Officer and subsequently Senior Legal Officer at the Communications Authority of Kenya, and Legal Manager at the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation, having commenced his legal career as a Trainee Advocate at Oraro & Co. Advocates. Stephen also teaches at the University of Nairobi School of Law.
Stephen will be responsible for the organisation’s reputation management, public policy, legal and regulatory affairs. He will also steer the development and implementation of Safaricom’s corporate investment strategy as well as oversee our internal and external communications. He will also lead the development of a roadmap that will embed purpose in everything we do at Safaricom and among our stakeholders.
Peter Ndegwa, CEO Safaricom
