Peter is the CEO of Safaricom PLC, a leading communications company in Africa and pioneer of M-PESA, the world’s most developed mobile payment system. Peter is the first Kenyan to serve as a CEO of Safaricom.

He is an experienced board-level leader with a wealth of experience in general management, commercial and business strategy, sales and finance operations, having spent over 25 years in various roles within the financial services and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors in Africa and Europe.

In his most recent role, Peter was responsible for Diageo PLC operations in 50 countries in Western and Eastern Europe, Russia, the Middle East, and North Africa regions. Previously, he served as CEO in Guinness Nigeria PLC and Guinness Ghana Breweries PLC, transforming the two operations to deliver double-digit growth by investing in people, introducing new brands and re-organizing the businesses.

As a chief executive in several markets within the Diageo group, Peter demonstrated the ability to transform businesses and organizations to deliver superior results. Peter served for eight years across a range of senior Executive Director roles at East Africa Breweries Limited (EABL) (a Diageo subsidiary) based in Nairobi. Serving as the Group CFO, Group Strategy Director, sales Director, and as an Executive Director on the EABL board, he was part of the team that saw the EABL business more than double in value – and winning the coveted Most Respected Business Award in East Africa for five years in a row.

Peter is credited with the development of an affordable beer strategy for EABL, resulting in the production of new brands such as Senator beer which became one of the most successful innovations by Diageo. He has a real passion for delivering value to customers (with his principle of customer first), investing in talent, and getting things done. He started his career at PwC, the global consulting firm, where he worked for 11 years. Peter draws his inspiration from his early upbringing, laying the foundations for his strong value set, from his teachers and the legendary Dr Geoffrey Griffin – the late founder of Starehe Boys Centre – his alma mater, and from his parents.

Peter acquired an MBA from the London Business School, bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Nairobi. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK). He holds other Directorships within the Safaricom Group which include: DigiFarm Kenya Limited, Safaricom Money Transfer Services Limited, M-PESA Africa Limited.

LEADERSHIP

Wim Vanhelleputte

Getachew Mengeste

Jacques Marais

Aatif Jamal

Ken Kaberia

Amit Chandiramani

David Umoh

Elsa Muzollini

Tsedale Tesfaye

Arjun Dhillon

Ismail Kumbul

Andualem Admassie (PhD)

Katsuya Kashiki

BOARD MEMBER

Michael Joseph

Peter Ndegwa

Wim Vanhelleputte

Shameel Joosub

Dilip Pal

Katsuya Kashiki

Abhinav Sinha