Safaricom restructures top management as Peter Arina exits

Telecommunications giant Safaricom has made changes to its senior level management in a bid to reposition and deliver to its customers.

Top on the list of individuals making an exit from the company is Peter Arina, General Manager Consumer Business, who is leaving to pursue personal interests after a stint spanning 11 years.

He has been responsible for consumer sales business which includes the dealer and M-PESA agents’ management and retail sales with its current footprint of 35 Safaricom retail shops across the country. He has also been charged with growing internet and data business. Also leaving the company is Ms Pauline Warui, director, customer management, who has opted to step down from her role to pursue personal business interests.

Pauline has held the role for the last seven years. She joined Safaricom Limited in January 2008 as the Head of Call Centre responsible for centre’s commercial division.

Heightened competition

“These changes have been necessitated by an appreciation that we as a business have become disconnected from our customers’ needs at various levels. We therefore have to re-purpose ourselves towards delivering a truly differentiated value proposition for our customers,” said Bob Collymore, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer.

As part of its talent succession plan and to ensure seamless transition at all levels of the business, Safaricom has appointed Sylvia Mulinge, to take over from Arina as General Manager, Consumer Business while Rita Okuthe will move from her current role as Director of Marketing to take over the position of General Manager, Enterprise Business Unit.

Janet Atika has replaced Warui and therefore moves from her current role as head of retail shop footprint to take charge of the Customer Management team. James Muteti has been promoted to Head of The Consumer Sales Department and will be reporting in to the GM, Consumer Business. 

Victor Ngumo makes a lateral transfer to take up the role of Head of Retail, reporting in to the GM Consumer Business. Arjun Singh Dhillon will take up the combined role of Head of SME & Channels reporting in to the GM Enterprise Business

Eric Acholla will coordinate the activities of all shared Marketing services which include Brand, Media, Research, Events, Sponsorships and Activations, reporting to the General Manager for Enterprise Business. All marketing product managers will report to the GM Consumer Business for marketing direction.

“These changes are necessary for us to be truly reflective of the demands of our customers and to prepare ourselves for the heightened competitive environment in which we are operating,” said Collymore.