Safaricom PLC, Kenya’s leading telecommunications provider has announced the departure of George Njuguna, its Chief Information Officer (CIO), after a successful five-year tenure.
According to the telco, Mr Njuguna has decided to pursue new opportunities outside the company.
Since joining Safaricom in 2019, Mr Njuguna played a pivotal role in driving the company’s digital transformation. Under his leadership, Safaricom successfully executed its telco-to-techco strategy, expanded its technology team fourfold to over 800 employees, and adopted Agile methodologies across its operations.
“We are grateful for George’s significant contributions to Safaricom’s journey,” said Peter Ndegwa, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Safaricom PLC. “His expertise and dedication have been instrumental in positioning us as a technology leader. We wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”
To fill the void left by Njuguna’s departure, Safaricom has appointed James Maitai as the new Group Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO), effective November 1, 2024.
Meanwhile, Anthony Gacanja, currently the Director of Network has already assumed the interim role of Acting Group CTIO effective. He will serve in this capacity until October 30, 2024, when Mr Maitai officially takes over as the permanent CTIO.
About James Maitai
Mr Maitai rejoins Safaricom PLC from Safaricom Ethiopia, where he has served as CTIO since January 2023.
During his time in Ethiopia, Mr Maitai oversaw the rapid expansion of the network to 3,000 sites, operationalized the M-PESA ecosystem, implemented a next-generation digital infrastructure, and achieved substantial cost savings in technology operations.
Prior to his role in Ethiopia, Mr Maitai spent 16 years at Safaricom PLC, holding various leadership positions, including Director – Network.
He was also a member of the company’s Executive Committee from 2019 to 2021.
“We are thrilled to welcome James back to Safaricom,” said Ndegwa. “His proven track record in technology leadership and deep understanding of our business make him the ideal candidate to drive our continued innovation and growth.”
James holds a strong academic foundation with a B.Sc. in Electrical & Electronics Engineering from the University of Nairobi and an MBA from JKUAT.
He further bolstered his expertise through industry certifications and continuous learning.