NAIROBI, Kenya-Safaricom PLC’s Chief Information Officer (CIO), George Njuguna, has officially stepped down after a five-year tenure at the telecom giant.
The news was confirmed by Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa in a statement, where he acknowledged Njuguna’s decision to pursue opportunities outside the company.
Since joining Safaricom in 2019 as Director of Information Technology, Njuguna has played a pivotal role in modernizing the company’s digital landscape.
His influence was instrumental in the rollout of Safaricom’s ambitious transition from a telecom provider to a technology company, widely referred to as its “Telco to Techco” strategy.
Under his leadership, the tech talent pool at Safaricom quadrupled to over 800 employees, while he championed the adoption of Agile methodologies across various departments.
“On behalf of Safaricom, I wish to thank him for his contribution to our transformation journey and wish him all the best in his future endeavors,” Ndegwa said, emphasizing Njuguna’s significant contributions to the company’s ongoing evolution.
In light of Njuguna’s departure, Safaricom has appointed James Maitai as the new Group Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO), effective November 1, 2024.
Maitai returns to Safaricom PLC after serving as CTIO at Safaricom Ethiopia, where he oversaw the rapid development of the technology stack, growing the network to over 3,000 sites and implementing next-gen digital infrastructure .
During his time in Ethiopia in Ethiopia, Maitai also played a key role in operationalizing the M-PESA ecosystem and delivering significant savings in technology operational expenses.
His return to Safaricom PLC marks a continuation of his 16-year journey with the company, where he previously led Safaricom’s network and systems strategy .
