Wilfred Kiboro
Encyclopedia
Wilfred David Kiboro, Sr. (born 7 August 1944) is a Kenya
n entrepreneur
, philanthropist
and golfer
. He is best known for being the Group CEO
for the Nation Media Group
. Kiboro is a highly respected personality in the media and business industries in Kenya.
He has won two very significant awards in his time, the Presidential Award - Order of the Burning Spear, an award that many Kenyans have not achieved, and the Leadership Shines Through - Africa award.
, now the Central Province
of the Republic of Kenya. He was born in the modern day Kiambu District
of the province.
in civil engineering from the University of Nairobi
, he began his career as a Technical Sales Engineer for Shell International, and was swiftly promoted to Technical Sales Manager, in charge of the manufacturing, sales and marketing of industrial and road construction products in the East
and Central
Africa region.
in 1993.
(abbreviated as NMG) in 1993 as the Managing Director Designate of the Nation newspaper. At the time it's only two products were the Daily Nation and Taifa Leo (a Kenyan Kiswahili
newspaper, meaning Nation Today).
In line with ongoing regional integration efforts, the NMG launched The East African in 1994, the most successful cross-border newspaper in East Africa, hitting the news-stands of Kenya
, Uganda
, Tanzania
and now Rwanda
. Kiboro became the Group CEO
in 1995 and retained his position until his retirement in 2006.
In 1999, the NMG made their entry into the electronic media industry after many years of frustration due to policy inadequacies and hostility by the then Government of Kenya under Daniel arap Moi
. Nation FM
and Nation TV were formed that year. Since then, the NMG has developed into a respected conglomerate around East Africa
under Kiboro's tenure. It is divided into:
The NMG has also taken advantage of the communications technology explosion to send news to their subscribers, in partnership with Safaricom
and Airtel, leading mobile operators in Kenya.
. The NMG labelled him as their 'Mentor, Father, Team Leader and Champion'. His dream for the NMG in the future is that it will diversify its activities to some 12 African countries within the next ten years. He also works as the Chairman of Wilfay Investments Limited and serves as a non-executive director
of East African Breweries Limited
and Standard Chartered Bank Kenya
.
, Kenya
with their grandson, Wilfred David Kiboro, Jr.
An active golf buff, Kiboro holds membership in several golf, sports
and country club
s in Kenya including Vet Lab Sports Club, Muthaiga Golf & Country Club
, Nyahururu Golf Club, Karen Country Club, and Rift Valley Sports Club.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and golfer
Golfer
Golfer may refer to:* A person who plays golf according to the rules.* Professional golfer* "The Golfer", an episode of The Honeymooners...
. He is best known for being the Group CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
for the Nation Media Group
Nation Media Group
Nation Media Group is a Kenyan media group listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. NMG was founded by Aga Khan IV in 1959 and is the largest private media house in East and Central Africa with offices in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania...
. Kiboro is a highly respected personality in the media and business industries in Kenya.
He has won two very significant awards in his time, the Presidential Award - Order of the Burning Spear, an award that many Kenyans have not achieved, and the Leadership Shines Through - Africa award.
Early life
Kiboro was born in the Kenya Province of the former Colony of KenyaKenya Colony
The Colony and Protectorate of Kenya was part of the British Empire in Africa. It was established when the former East Africa Protectorate was transformed into a British crown colony in 1920...
, now the Central Province
Central Province (Kenya)
Kenya's Central Province covers an area of 13,191 km² and is located to north of Nairobi and west of Mt. Kenya. The province had 4,383,743 inhabitants according to the 2009 census...
of the Republic of Kenya. He was born in the modern day Kiambu District
Kiambu District
Kiambu District is an administrative district in the Central Province of Kenya. Its capital town is Kiambu. The district is adjacent to the northern border of Nairobi and has a population of 744,010....
of the province.
Shell International
After receiving his Bachelor's degreeBachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
in civil engineering from the University of Nairobi
University of Nairobi
The University of Nairobi is the largest university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution goes back to 1956, it did not become an independent university until 1970 when the University of East Africa was split into three independent universities: Makerere University in...
, he began his career as a Technical Sales Engineer for Shell International, and was swiftly promoted to Technical Sales Manager, in charge of the manufacturing, sales and marketing of industrial and road construction products in the East
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
and Central
Central Africa
Central Africa is a core region of the African continent which includes Burundi, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Rwanda....
Africa region.
Esso Kenya
Kiboro joined Esso Kenya Ltd. in 1974 as a Supply, Planning and Economics Manager, where he started gaining both managerial and executive recognition. He gained several positions including Personnel Director and Sales/Marketing Director.Xerox Kenya
He joined Xerox Kenya in 1987 and was appointed the Managing Director of the company in 1989. He held this position until he joined the Nation Media GroupNation Media Group
Nation Media Group is a Kenyan media group listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. NMG was founded by Aga Khan IV in 1959 and is the largest private media house in East and Central Africa with offices in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania...
in 1993.
Nation Media Group
Kiboro joined Nation Media GroupNation Media Group
Nation Media Group is a Kenyan media group listed on the Nairobi Stock Exchange. NMG was founded by Aga Khan IV in 1959 and is the largest private media house in East and Central Africa with offices in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania...
(abbreviated as NMG) in 1993 as the Managing Director Designate of the Nation newspaper. At the time it's only two products were the Daily Nation and Taifa Leo (a Kenyan Kiswahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
newspaper, meaning Nation Today).
In line with ongoing regional integration efforts, the NMG launched The East African in 1994, the most successful cross-border newspaper in East Africa, hitting the news-stands of Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and now Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
. Kiboro became the Group CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
in 1995 and retained his position until his retirement in 2006.
In 1999, the NMG made their entry into the electronic media industry after many years of frustration due to policy inadequacies and hostility by the then Government of Kenya under Daniel arap Moi
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002.Daniel arap Moi is popularly known to Kenyans as 'Nyayo', a Swahili word for 'footsteps'...
. Nation FM
Easy FM (Kenya)
Easy FM, formerly known as Nation FM, is an English-speaking national radio station based in Nairobi, Kenya. It is owned by the Nation Media Group.- FM frequencies :*Nairobi 96.3*Mombasa 101.5*Kisumu 102.1*Nyeri 104.9*Eldoret 102.7*Nakuru 97.7*Meru 93.9...
and Nation TV were formed that year. Since then, the NMG has developed into a respected conglomerate around East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
under Kiboro's tenure. It is divided into:
- The Nation Newspapers Division
- The Nation Broadcasting Division
- Nation Carriers Ltd (with Courier)
- Nation Marketing & Publishing:
- Business Directory
- The Weekly Advertiser
- Distribution of local and international publications such as the Economist, Time, Newsweek among others
- East African Magazines
- Monitor Publications Ltd.
- Mwananchi Communications Ltd.
The NMG has also taken advantage of the communications technology explosion to send news to their subscribers, in partnership with Safaricom
Safaricom
Safaricom, Ltd is a leading mobile network operator in Kenya. It was formed in 1997 as a fully owned subsidiary of Telkom Kenya. In May 2000, Vodafone group Plc of the United Kingdom, the world's largest telecommunication company, acquired a 40% stake and management responsibility for the...
and Airtel, leading mobile operators in Kenya.
International career
Kiboro has travelled extensively, holding numerous national, regional and international job assignments that have seen him supervise cross-national teams across continents, a vote of confidence in his abilities as a change manager. He has dedicated his life to serving his country. As evidenced by the record of posts he has held and continues to hold with a view to contributing to Kenya’s growth and development. Internationally, Wilfred Kiboro is the chairman of the International Press Institute (IPI) in Kenya, the East African Business Summit and a member of the International Who’s Who of Professionals. He also sits on The Rhodes Trust in Kenya as Honorary Chairman and is a member of the International Organisation of Employers’ Enterprise Advisory Group. He launched numerous environmental and humanitarian efforts during his tenure at NMG, two key ones being:- The launching of the Aberdare Forest Fund in 2002
- The launching of the Nation Turkana Relief Fund in 1999/2000
Major awards
- Presidential Award - Order of the Burning Spear
- Leadership Shines Through - Africa
- ICT Hall of Fame - 2007 Lifetime Inductee
Retirement
Kiboro retired as the Group CEO of the NMG in 2006, but still works there as the chairman of their board of directorsBoard of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. The NMG labelled him as their 'Mentor, Father, Team Leader and Champion'. His dream for the NMG in the future is that it will diversify its activities to some 12 African countries within the next ten years. He also works as the Chairman of Wilfay Investments Limited and serves as a non-executive director
Non-executive director
A non-executive director or outside director is a member of the board of directors of a company who does not form part of the executive management team. He or she is not an employee of the company or affiliated with it in any other way...
of East African Breweries Limited
East African Breweries
East African Breweries Limited is a large East African brewing company which owns 80% of Kenya Breweries, 98.2% of Uganda Breweries, 100% of Central Glass - a glass manufacturer, 100% of Kenya Maltings and 46% of United Distillers and Vintners Limited, 100% of Universal Distilers Uganda, 100% EABL...
and Standard Chartered Bank Kenya
Standard Chartered Bank
Standard Chartered PLC is a multinational financial services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom with operations in more than seventy countries...
.
Personal life
Kiboro and his wife Fatuma live in NairobiNairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
with their grandson, Wilfred David Kiboro, Jr.
An active golf buff, Kiboro holds membership in several golf, sports
Sports club
A sports club or sport club, sometimes athletics club or sports association is a club for the purpose of playing one or more sports...
and country club
Country club
A country club is a private club, often with a closed membership, that typically offers a variety of recreational sports facilities and is located in city outskirts or rural areas. Activities may include, for example, any of golf, tennis, swimming or polo...
s in Kenya including Vet Lab Sports Club, Muthaiga Golf & Country Club
Muthaiga Country Club
The Muthaiga Country Club is a club in Nairobi, Kenya. It is located in the suburb of Muthaiga, about 15 minutes drive from the city center.The Muthaiga Country Club opened on New Year's Eve in 1913, and became a gathering place for the elite society of British East Africa, which later became the...
, Nyahururu Golf Club, Karen Country Club, and Rift Valley Sports Club.
Sources
- Profile at The Media Center @ API
- Profile at Bloomberg Businessweek
- Profile at Nation Media Group - Board of Directors
External links
- Nation Media Group - Official website of the Nation Media Group.
- Shell International - Official website of Shell International.
- Xerox Kenya - Official website of Xerox Kenya.
- ICTvillage