My stint as a milk hawker prepared me for my CEO job

Joseph Choge CEO of Premier Foods Limited. [Courtesy]

At 39, Joseph Choge is arguably one of the youngest CEOs running a regional brand with a presence in eight African countries. He is the chief executive officer of Premier Foods Limited, a constituent of IPS and the company behind brand names such as Peptang, PEP and Orchid Valley. 

Choge started his career as an accounts assistant at Barclays Bank (now Absa) before moving to Real Insurance, then Unilever and Airtel before his current posting. He shares some of the principles that have kept the Premier brands relevant in a competitive market that sees many new players joining every day.