Effective 1 January 2025, Miriam Kaggwa will assume the role of COO after nearly two years as the company’s CFO, while group finance director Sanjeev Panwar takes on the CFO role.
Sanjeev, who joined the company in 2008, has more than 20 years’ experience spanning the financial services, advertising and marketing industries.
“The board is confident that the company will benefit from Panwar’s skills, knowledge and industry experience and wishes him all the best in his new role in the company,” WPP Scangroup chairperson Richard Omwela said in a statement.
Sanjeev was a senior finance manager at Yo!China, a popular chain of Chinese restaurants in India. He also worked with ZenithOptimedia, a division of global communications and marketing firm Publicis Groupe in India.
Sanjeev holds a BCom from the University of Delhi. He is also a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India and a certified management accountant (CMA) from the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of India.
New chapter
Miriam is credited with several accomplishments during her tenure as CFO, including WPP Scangroup’s recent win at the Financial Reporting (FiRe) Awards held by the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK ), where the company scooped four awards.
The seasoned executive boasts over 20 years’ experience in diverse areas including financial planning, analysis and budgeting, mergers and acquisition and working capital management.
“This appointment recognises the key role that Kaggwa has played in managing the operations of the company since she joined, and the importance the board attaches to continuously improving the company’s operational effectiveness and controls environment,” the company statement noted.
Before joining WPP Scangroup in February 2023, Miriam was the CFO for North America at public relations firm BCW Global, a subsidiary of Scangroup, where she led the finance function and operations in nine US markets. She played a key role in driving growth and creating value by generating alternate revenue streams for the business.
Miriam holds a BA in chemistry from Macalester College, a BSc in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota and an MBA from the Johnson School of Management, Cornell University.
