Tiger Brands has appointed former Nairobi Deputy governor as one of its six new Managing Directors. The South African company has said in a statement.
Igathe was appointed to head the International Brands Unit, in a move meant to drive the business forward and increase its reach within its current operating market and prospective markets.
“We are pleased to announce the internal appointment of six managing directors who will be leading our newly organized business units following a review of our operating model and structure to enable consumer obsession, agile execution, and innovation,” Tiger Brands statement reads in part.
Tiger Brands is a food and consumer healthcare products company driving growth across 25 countries with five priority markets including Cameroon, Nigeria, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
Other selected Managing Directors include Quinton Swart who will head the Bakeries unit, Dumo Mfini who will head thee Culinary Unit, Grant Pereira to head the Snacks, Treats, and Beverages unit, Liezel Holmes will head the Grains Unit, and Ismail Namabhay who will head the Home, Personal Care, and Baby Unit.
Previously, Igathe was Tiger Brands Regional Managing Director for East Africa business between 2008 and 2013. He left before rejoining the company again in November 2023 when he was appointed Chief Growth Officer.
Igathe has previously headed top continental organizations including Equity Bank, Coca-Cola, Kenya Breweries, Haco Industries, and Viv Energy.
He is also a prominent figure in Kenya’s political scene having unsuccessfully contested the 2022 gubernatorial seat for Nairobi. he was also briefly the Deputy Governor of Nairobi in 2017.
Tiger Brands In Kenya
In 2017, the South African consumer giant announced that it will be exiting the Kenyan market after disposing of its 51 percent stake in the local unit, Haco Tiger Brands, to billionaire businessman Chris Kirubi, who currently holds the remaining 49 percent share.
The details on the value of the transaction was never disclosed but Tiger Brands noted that Kenya is a difficult business environment.
The development came barely two years after top executives of Haco Tiger Brands were accused of manipulating books of accounts to paint a rosy performance of the Kenyan unit.
