Ashington "Ash" Makau has announced his resignation from his role as regional CFO for Africa and Europe at Volcafe. He took on the position of regional head of Future Energies and LPG at Puma Energy, effective September 2024.
This transition marks a notable shift in industries for Ash. Volcafe is one of the world’s largest traders of Arabica and Robusta coffees, while Puma Energy is a Swiss multinational company specialising in mid- and downstream oil operations. Puma operates in approximately 40 countries across five continents, handling the supply, storage, refining, distribution, and retail of various petroleum products.
Ash’s career began at Strathmore University, where he completed an ACCA qualification in accounting and finance. He furthered his expertise with certificates in Sustainability for Finance and Digital Innovation for Finance, reflecting his commitment to staying at the forefront of industry trends.
Since 2012, Ash has taken on several roles, beginning as a management accountant at Sopa Lodges. At Olam International, he served as Country Finance Manager in Tanzania, and later as Regional Finance Manager for East Africa, overseeing financial operations across multiple countries. His time at Olam culminated in his role as Cluster CFO for East Africa, where he managed finance operations across diverse segments, including cotton, coffee, and cocoa.
Ash joined Volcafe in May 2021, where he was responsible for driving financial excellence and promoting sustainability within the coffee trading industry. In this role, he leveraged his extensive experience and strategic vision to foster partnerships and support both customers and suppliers. Notably, he was recognised as Young CFO of the Year at the ACCA Africa CFO Awards in 2023.
