Interviews

David Muriithi, director of finance at Serengeti Breweries, sees accounting as a life skill - and one that has provided a solid foundation for him to make his mark in finance in over 10 countries and across two continents.

Considering the perspective of others is a personal principle by which Lawrence Kimathi, financial director of KCB Group, lives - and this code of ethics has served him well.

As CFO of a law firm comprising more than 75 lawyers, "security dad" Andrew Murimi's philosophy is to treat others as he himself would love to be treated. In his view, empathy is what distinguishes managers from leaders.

Kinya Kimotho, Diageo's finance and strategy director for partner emerging markets in Africa, subscribes to the Japanese concept of Ikigai, which describes having a sense of purpose in life, seeking that motivating force that gets you out of bed every morning.

Despite not initially setting down the finance career path, Andrew Makumbi, CFO of Jubilee Allianz Insurance Uganda, reveals that he was mesmerised and challenged by his first insurance audit.

Sophia Mukoba-Kioko, FD at Unilever East Africa, recently left Kenya to take on a new role in London, UK, as the Unilever global audit finance lead. Although she has travelled extensively, this will be her first assignment outside the country.

Kennedy Muriungi, the CFO of Camusat's Uganda operations, shares one of his weird and interesting reads that challenges conventional thinking, how people interpret situations, and helps with both personal and business success.

CFO East Africa recently caught up with Wasoko global CFO Sundararaman Pattabiraman to understand his views on Kenya and the finance fraternity.

At the age of only 39, Hermann Malan boasts an impressive career as a CFO, having traversed various regions of Africa. His journey began in West Africa, extended to South Africa, and eventually led him to East Africa.

Dennis Musau, chief financial and value officer of Stanbic Bank Kenya and South Sudan, recently engaged in a conversation with CFO East Africa, discussing his career journey, lessons learnt, and what keeps him awake at night.

It is quite a tough job being the CFO of an African airline. The industry faces many challenges from inadequate infrastructure to inconsistent demand. Despite this, CFO of Kenya Airways Hellen Mathuka, loves her job.

Moses Aman, CFO at Lafarge Hima Cement, wanted to be a pilot while in high school, but instead found his career lift-off after enrolling for a major in Accounting at university.

Risper Genga Ohaga, the CFO of East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL), considers success a multifaceted concept, spanning courage, sacrifice and self-awareness.

CFO East Africa caught up with Michael Nzule, financial and strategy director for Mitchell Cotts Freight Kenya Limited, to better understand the finance leader's approach to strategy and crises - and also convinced him to impart critical insight on that elusive X Factor and his leadership life lessons.

ICEA LION General Insurance Tanzania CFO Alfred Mtaki is relishing the steep learning curve in a fast-growing company.

Although Jurgen Paulis has worked all over the world, he has found a passion for Africa and for the work that AIF does. And looking back at his career, he is also most proud of the work that he is doing at AIF.

Eunice Waweru, Finance and Strategy director of Uganda Breweries Limited, recently engaged in a conversation with CFO East Africa, discussing her career journey, cultural differences across African countries, and the legacy she aspires to leave.

Despite starting his career as a graduate accountant trainee, Richard Tobiko, the chief financial officer for Nation Media Group, actually began working in operations on site.

ICEA LION General Insurance CFO Zipporah Chege’s journey to leading a finance function was undoubtedly shaped by her upbringing.

Dilip Pal, the CFO of Safaricom, is a highly educated and extremely experienced professional who has led finance functions on two of the largest continents in the world.