#19

Jane Karuku

MD-EABL

Jane Karuku, who has been a member of the EABL Board and Managing Director for KBL since September 2013, has been appointed the MD of EABL from January 1 2021, replacing replace Andrew Cowan who will remain a member of the EABL Board, in addition to taking up a new role in Diageo’s global business as MD for Africa Regional Markets.

Jane is the Chairman of the Kenya Vision 2030 Delivery Board.

Jane also chairs the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund Board appointed on March 30, 2020 by HE President Uhuru Kenyatta, with the principal objective to mobilise resources for the emergency response towards containing the spread, effects, and impact of the SARS- CoV-2 virus that leads to the Covid-19 disease.

Karuku is a dynamic business leader, with strong management, marketing and global branding experience spanning over 25 years.

Announcing the appointment, EABL board chairman Martin Oduor-Otieno said they are delighted to have Jane take over the role. ”I am very confident that her depth of expertise and knowledge of the business will lead the Group to future growth in line with our strategy,” Oduor-Otieno said.

Prior to joining KBL, she was the President of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), where she was responsible for one of Africa’s largest grant-making organisations in the food security and agricultural development sector.

Previously, she has held a host of senior positions in various other organisations including Cadbury’s East & Central Africa as Managing Director before joining Telkom Kenya, as Deputy Chief Executive.

Karuku has served on several boards including Barclays Bank of Kenya, now rebranded to Absa Bank Kenya Plc and is currently a Trustee of Precious Sisters, an organisation that empowers bright and underprivileged girls through education.

Mrs. Karuku holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food Science and Technology from the University of Nairobi and an MBA in Marketing from the National University US-in California.

Her role on KBL is set to be taken over by John Musunga who joins from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) where he headed the firm’s vaccine business in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in his most recent appointment.

On December 12, 2020 HE Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta CGH, The President and Commander of the Defence Forces of Kenya, conferred on Jane Wambui Karuku, the award and honour of the Moran of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya (MGH) in recognition of her distinguished and outstanding service rendered to the nation in her various capacity and responsibilities especially in her sterling leadership of the Covid-19 Emergency Response Fund Boards.

CITATION

• Global Marketing
• Brand Equity Management
• CSR
• National Leadership
• Fund Raising