EABL appoints new managing director for Kenya Breweries

Ms Jane Karuku, the new managing director of Kenya Breweries Limited. PHOTO | FILE 

By MUGAMBI MUTEGI, pmutegi@ke.nationmedia.com

Beer maker EABL has hired its non-executive board member to head its Kenyan subsidiary, replacing Joe Muganda who has joined the Nation Media Group (NMG) as the new chief executive.

Jane Karuku, who has been in East African Breweries Limited (EABL’s) board since September
2013, was on Tuesday introduced as the new Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) managing director on the same day that her predecessor took over the reins at NMG, the publisher of this newspaper.

Ms Karuku’s appointment takes effect on Monday next week.

The brewer said she will continue serving on its board, but as an executive director.

“I am confident that her strategic insights and cross-functional skills will be instrumental in injecting great value in the future growth of KBL business,” said EABL’s managing director Charles Ireland.

John O’Keeffe, the new Diageo Africa president, has also replaced Andy Fennell on the EABL board, following his exit from the multinational brewer on June 30.

Ms Karuku was until September 2014 the president of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (Agra) —an African agricultural development organisation— a job she held for two years.

Prior to the appointment she was the deputy chief executive at Telkom Kenya and before that the managing director at Cadbury East & Central Africa.

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science and Technology graduate is a trustee of the United States International University (USIU) and a former non-executive director at Barclays Bank of Kenya.

“We are delighted to have Ms Karuku who brings a wealth of experience as an established pan-African business leader both in the corporate and development sectors,” said Mr Ireland.

KBL, located at Ruaraka in Nairobi, is one of EABL’s six subsidiaries with the others being Uganda Breweries, EABL International, East African Maltings, United Distillers Vintners and Serengeti Breweries.

EABL is expected to announce its full-year results in a few weeks. The brewer reported an 11 per cent net profit growth to Sh4.6 billion in the half-year ended December as sales (especially of its flagship brand Tusker) rose faster than costs.

Mr Muganda began his term as NMG’s group managing director and chief executive officer on Tuesday.

He succeeds Linus Gitahi, who has led the media group for over eight years.

Prior to joining KBL, Mr Muganda had served in several senior positions at British American Tobacco, Unilever and Barclays Bank.