Giant telecommunication company Safaricom on Tuesday appointed Michael Joseph as acting Chief Executive Officer, hours after the death of Bob Collymore.
In a statement, the company said Joseph will be leading the company until a substantive appointment is done in due course.
“Mr. Joseph will hold this position until the Board communicates in due course on a permanent appointment,” said Kathryn Maundu, the company secretary.
Mr Joseph served as the pioneer Chief Executive of Safaricom before his exit in 2010. He was succeeded by Mr Bob Collymore who died on Monday.
Currently, Collymore is a board member Kenya Airways. He has also been serving at Safaricom as board member as well.
In a statement on Monday, Safaricom chairman Nicholas Nganga said the company was going to make a temporary replacement.
“Bob has fought this cancer with great courage, all that time he has continued to give leadership from his house, it has been two years. He knew what was going to happen and he was ready,” said Safaricom Board Chairman Nicholas Nganga.
"We will be giving the way forward hopefully later today or within the next 24 hours," Ng'ang'a said as he finished off his statement.
He lauded Collymore's achievements at the company. Safaricom made a profit of Sh64 billion in the ended quarter.
“For nine years since he joined Safaricom, Bob has provided the company with visionary leadership and he was always passionate at whatever he did,” said Ng'ang'a.