KENYA – Sanlam Kenya, a non-bank financial services provider has appointed Caroline Laichena as the new General Insurance Chief Executive Officer, reports The Star.
Laichena has been serving in an acting capacity since January following the exit of George Kuria.
In a statement to newsrooms on Thursday, Laichena’s appointment takes effect from November 1.
The company said her appointment further follows a series of competitive recruitment processes and is part of Sanlam Kenya’s ongoing efforts to deepen its leadership capacity for business growth.
Group CEO Patrick Tumbo said the Laichena will spearhead ongoing business reforms geared at accelerating growth.
At the helm of Sanlam General Insurance, Laichena joins her Sanlam Life counterpart Stella Njung’e in an all ladies’ formidable duo providing leadership support for Dr.Tumbo as the subsidiary CEOs and Principal Officers.
In the lead up to her appointment, Laichena has been serving as the Acting CEO since January 2019, following the exit of former Sanlam General Insurance CEO George Kuria.
Laichena who was then the Head of Operations played a critical role in the return to profitability of Sanlam General Insurance.
“The appointment of Laichena underlines Sanlam Kenya’s commitment to our business transformation agenda largely geared at re-positioning us as a major provider of life and general insurance products’ and services while growing shareholder value,”Tumbo said.
He added, “As a career Insurance Executive, Laichena enjoys the wealth of experience and leadership capability required to transform Sanlam General Insurance to the top of the league”.
On her part, Laichena said she is humbled to be taking over as the substantive Sanlam General Insurance CEO at a most exciting moment in the history of the company.
“Backed by a complement of some of the most experienced Insurance executives in Kenya, we shall be building upon our recent success factors to further raise the value of general insurance services to our growing clientele,” she said.
As a seasoned Insurance Executive, Laichena started off her career as a Management trainee at the then Lion of Kenya Insurance Company 19 years ago.
She later joined ICEA, Jubilee Insurance, Cannon Assurance and Heritage Insurance in various positions.
She served as Saham Assurance Co Kenya Ltd General Manager in charge of the firm’s General Business Division prior to joining Sanlam Kenya in September 2016.
