BY SILAS APOLLO
Safaricom’s founding chief executive officer Michael Joseph quits from the board of the company after serving in different capacities for 23 years
The Safaricom board, in a statement issued today, said that Joseph had resigned to pursue and focus on other ventures in his life including continuing his current role as chairman of the Kenya Airways.
Joseph, who served as the director at the board of Safaricom Plc, resigned effective August 1, 2023, according to the statement released by Safaricom company secretary Kathryne Maundu.
“The board announces the resignation of Michael Joseph as a director in the board of Safaricom Plc, with effect from August 1, 2023,” Maundu said. “Michael was the founding chief executive officer of Safaricom Limited, steering the company from a subscriber base of less that 18,000 in 2000 to over 17 million subscribers by his retirement in November 2010, making it the most successful company in East Africa.”
He has served in various capacities at the telco since 2000, including serving as general manager, chief executive officer, director as well as the chairman of the board. He was also a member and chairman of various committees of the Safaricom board.
Joseph was also behind the launch of both Safaricom and M-Pesa Foundations which have supported many projects throughout Kenya in education, health, culture and conservation.
He also alongside former chief executive officer, the late Bob Collymore, launched the M-Pesa foundation academy, and oversaw the “successful launch and phenomenal growth of M-Pesa and its related services” during his tenure.
“It is this deep foundation and connection with the communities that Michael developed that led to the phenomenal growth, development of innovative products and services, ensuring that Safaricom became deeply embedded in every bit of our society,” Safaricom said.
