The start of the new year usually comes with a lot of expectations, resolutions and a strategy either different from the ended year or a better one to entrench the successes of the previous years. For the MD’s,CEO’s and General Managers of companies, a new year comes with the challenge of keeping the company afloat, grow profit and serve the various stakeholders. 2016 is one such year and a number of company heads will have to do much to either keep their companies at the top or work hard to be better than the other year. We list the top 10 today who will need to work extra hard this year.
Kin Kariisa; this young CEO who heads NBS television has rattled feathers in the broadcasting industry. He has seen NBS take the number on slot on the most watched television station with growing audiences dethroning NMG owned NTV that had occupied the top spot with less competition for years. Kin, who is also the CEO of Kin Group is also involved in other mega projects including the OPEC Naguru housing project and of late has been in the NRM party’s good books with a nod from party leader Yoweri Museveni.
Robert Kabushenga; election year is usually good business for media houses. There is money from advertising the different electoral activities and publicity for the parties jostling for political positions. Robert heads Vision group that has New Vision as the leading newspaper, Bukedde tv that has enormous audiences and other radio stations that are market leaders in their regions. As the head of Uganda’s biggest media empire, Kabushenga has a huge stake in what kind of information he relays to the public. He forms opinion and therefore is in a pivotal spot to decide on the country’s 2016 destiny.
Charles Hamya; this tall lanky head of Multichoice Uganda which was the pioneer pay television provider is in for a rough ride in 2016. Having gotten rid of GTV which closed a year into business, Charles continues to lead the pack even with the entry of other providers like Zuku Tv, Star Times and a host of other Indian and Arabic channels. What however should be worrying for Hamya and his DStv group should be the launch of American movie provider NetFlix who launched their Africa operations at the end of last year and continue to offer one month free trial for all. Will the entry of a new player upset the balance of power in the pay tv industry? Lets watch how Hamya holds on
Selestino Babungi was appointed MD of Umeme who are Uganda’s power distributing company in March and has in the past faced strong criticism from consumers who believe the power body overcharges them and gives a bad service. Selestino replaced Charles Chapman and had led the South African owned concession since they were awarded the tender to run the power body. Umeme is a public owned and listed company with a lot of pressure from shareholders to deliver a good service and grow profit especially for the South African shareholders and others like NSSF Uganda who hold majority stakes. Being the first Ugandan born MD, Selestino who is an accountant by training has all eyes on him in 2016
Tony Glencross; the South African born former commercial director at Vision Group jumped ship to take the mantle at NMG owned Monitor publications. Taking over from a low profile MD like Alex Asiimwe, Tony will need to grow the strategic direction of the Daily Monitor that has suffered brilliant staff exits especially on its political desk that saw Andrew Mwenda, Chris Obore and Don Wanyama leave. Political reporting has always given them the edge over the rival govt owned New Vision. With election coverage and political reporting being the lead in this election year, Tony will be expected to grow copy sales, increase revenue from advertising and see the growth of the other NMG subsidiaries including KFM, Dembe.
Brian Gouldie; is the CEO of MTN Uganda who are the telecom market leaders. Gouldie who took over in 2014 has managed to keep MTN at the top with the most subscribers and innovative services like mobile money that continue to dominate. 2016 however will be the test for Brian with growing competition from the Lebanese owned Africell, a revamped Uganda Telecom that got a new MD, Airtel and Vodafone.
Patrick Mweheire; was appointed at the close of 2014 as Stanbic Bank Uganda’s first Ugandan CEO. Stnabic is Uganda’s largest bank. He replaced Philip Odera, whose tenure expired at the end of 2014. With competition from over 30 banks and banking short cuts like mobile money, Patrick has an uphill task of keeping Stanbic’s fortunes intact and continues to be the largest bank in the country, a test he needs to prove as the First Ugandan head of the South African Standard Bank owned entity.
Richard Byarugaba; is the Managing Director of worker’s savings body NSSF which currently has the biggest asset and cash base in Uganda. NSSF which is as prone to controversy as pregnant student has had top leadership changing way too often with nearly all of them leaving under controversial circumstances. Richard is handling his second stint at the fund after his first contract expired. NSSF which recently made 30 years of operations has too many varied interests from the different stakeholders including the workers who want their money in safe hands, government and the line ministry especially when you consider the past allegations that worker’s savings were invested in non profitable ventures like the Nsimbe Estate and the controversial Temangalo.
Peter Mungoma; is currently the General Manager of Capital Radio and Beat FM which lead the radio segment in Uganda as number one in the English category and number 2 in the luganda category. Peter who also worked at Multichoice Uganda will have to maintain his market leader position especially with competition from growing radio brands like Radio City, Galaxy and Red Pepper owned Juice FM. Capital FM sister stations under the Radio Africa group in Kenya also take the number one and number position with Classic FM and Kiss FM leading the pack. With a hard to please boss like Patrick Quarcoo, Peter will have to keep on the edge of his seat.
Nyimpini Mabunda; the South African born Uganda Breweries Managing Director did a stellar job in 2015 picking up significant market share from their arch rivals SABMiller owned Nile Breweries to clinch the top brewery position. Nyimpini also strengthened his team adding a new Marketing Director Juliana Kagwa who moved back to the Luzira based brewery from Heineken Uganda. Nyimpini will have to keep his machinery oiled with the increasing competition from other players like Heineken and new entrants Budweiser plus the spirits division that will pit him against a tide of suppliers.
Top CEO’s to watch in 2016
