Naikuni to exit Kenya Airways a month ahead of retirement date

Kenya: The board of directors of Kenya Airways Limited has written to the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), indicating it has accepted the resignation of Dr Titus Naikuni as the chief executive and managing director of the national career.

"We hereby announce that at the board meeting of the company held on September 19, 2014, the board accepted the resignation of Dr Titus Naikuni as a Director and Group Managing Director of Kenya Airways Limited with effect from  October 31, 2014," said Evanson Mwaniki. Mbuvi Ngunze will replace Dr Titus Naikuni with effect from November 1, 2014 as opposed to December 1, 2014. The foregoing supersedes an earlier notification dated June 24, 2014.

Naikuni was to retire at the end of November, this year. Before being appointed, his replacement has been the chief operating officer at the airline.

In January this year, the board engaged the services of an international talent search firm Spencer Stuart Ltd to assist in the process of finding a replacement for Naikuni. "I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mbuvi Ngunze as the new CEO, with effect from December 1, 2014," said KQ Board Chairman Evanson Mwaniki.

It is still unclear why Naikuni has resigned from the airline, two months ahead of his retirement which was planned for December 1, 2014.