NMG makes changes to its Board of Directors

By  Kabui Mwangi

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

Nation Media Group PLC (NMG) has made changes to its board with the appointment of six new directors.

The group has tapped the Group CEO of Jubilee Insurance, Julius Kipng'etich, former Managing Director of National Bank of Kenya Wilfred Musau and TV personality and Chief Executive of Africa Leadership and Dialogue Institute, Julie Gichuru.

Tech guru and CEO of Kehmett Juliana Rotich, former Scangroup CEO Bharat Thakrar, and Georgia Mutagahywa, the Chief of Staff to the Chairman of Taifa Group of Companies Rostam Azizi, have also joined the board.

"They bring a strong combination of experience across media, communications, technology, digital transformation, financial services, corporate leadership, governance, marketing and stakeholder engagement,” said Joe Muganda, the Chairman of NMG Board, in a statement.

“Their diverse perspectives and experience across East Africa and beyond will strengthen the Board as Nation Media Group continues to evolve and respond to the opportunities and challenges shaping our industry.”

The changes follow the conclusion of the sale of The Aga Khan majority stake in NMG to Taarifa Ltd, a company owned by Mr Azizi, a Tanzanian businessman.

The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development S.A. (AKFED) sold its 54.08 percent shareholding, concluding AKFED's 66-year association with NMG, which began in 1959.

NMG also announced the exit of four directors: Sultan Allana, Fayyaz Nurmohamed, Al-noor Ramji and Prof Nancy Booker.

“I thank our departing directors for their service and contribution to Nation Media Group and warmly welcome our new directors,” said Mr Muganda.

The board appointments come as NMG continues to make increased investment in paid digital content in the push for higher revenues.

The new directors have wide knowledge in finance, technology and media.

Ms Mutagahywa has previously held senior corporate affairs roles at Barrick Tanzania, AB InBev East Africa, Tanzania Breweries and Vodacom Tanzania.

Mr Thakrar has made a name in the region’s advertising market, having founded and built Scangroup to a Pan-African marketing group. He is currently a consultant at Ideologie — an integrated communication agency.

Mr Rotich is one of the figures behind Kenya’s early technology boom, having co-founded Ushahidi, the crowdsourcing platform born from the 2007–2008 post-election crisis, as well as iHub and BRCK.

Dr Gichuru has served in leadership positions at KTN, NTV and Citizen TV, while Mr Musau is a financial consultant, with a focus on restructuring and project management.

Mr Kipng'etich is a renowned corporate leader, having previously served as CEO of Uchumi Supermarket and Kenya Wildlife Services.

His Highness the Aga Khan IV founded NMG with the vision of providing Kenya a free, independent Press to help in promoting democratic governance at independence.

NMG has grown over the past six decades into a multi-platform media conglomerate of over 30 brands, spanning four countries, reaching over 62 million digital users, and employing more than 1,000 professionals across the region. The first issue of the Daily Nation was published on March 20, 1960.

The group was among the first media companies in Africa to list on a securities exchange, with its shares trading on the NSE since 1973. Throughout its history, NMG has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to editorial independence.

The group has played a pivotal role in Kenya's democratic development, including its coverage of the multiparty transition in the 1990s and its contribution to public education during the 2010 constitutional referendum.

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