Benson Wairegi

Dr. Benson I Wairegi
Born Benson Irungu Wairegi
1953 (age 64–65)
Kigumo, Kenya
Nationality Kenyan
Alma mater University of Nairobi
(Bachelor of Commerce)
(Master of Business Administration)
Certified Public Accountant of Kenya
(Certified Public Accountant)
Occupation Accountant, Bank Executive, Businessman & Entrepreneur
Years active 1977 - present
Home town Kigumo
Title Group Managing Director & Group CEO
Britam
Spouse(s) 1

Dr. Benson I Wairegi (born 1953) is an accountant, banker, businessman and entrepreneur in Kenya, the largest economy in the East African Community. He is the current Group Managing Director of Britam Holdings Plc (Britam), the financial services conglomerate headquartered in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, with subsidiaries in Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique.

Background and education

Wairegi was born in Kigumo Division,Murang'a county, in Kenya's Central Province, in 1953, the first born in a family of 11 siblings. He holds the degree of Bachelor of Commerce (BCom), obtained from the University of Nairobi. He also holds the degree of Master of Business Administration (MBA), specializing in Accounting and Finance, also obtained from the University of Nairobi. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).[1]

Career

In 1977, at the age of 24, Benson Wairegi joined British-American as the Chief Accountant.[2] In 1984, Kenyan regulators ordered all foreign-owned insurance companies to sell at least 33.3% shareholding to indigenous Kenyan nationals. Wairegi took out a KSh600,000 personal mortgage against his house and bought a 3.3% stake in Britam. He also encouraged other Kenyans to do the same. That same year, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer at the company. Over the years, his investment in Britam has grown to KSh1.7 billion (US$19 million), as at February 2014.[3][4]

Other responsibilities

Benson Wairegi, sits on the Board of Directors of several public Kenyan institutions and a number of publicly traded Kenyan companies; including the following:[5]

  1. Britam Holdings Plc - Managing Director & CEO, since 1984.
  2. Equity Group Holdings Limited - Non-Executive Vice Chairman
  3. Housing Finance Company of Kenya - Non-Executive Director
  4. Kenyatta University - Chairman of Kenyatta University Council
  5. Insurance Training and Education Trust - Member of the Board of Trustees.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Businessweek. "Executive Profile of Benson Irungu Wairegi". Businessweek.com. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  2. ↑ Ochieng, Lillian (1 April 2014). "For Britam Boss, Juggling A Bag Full of Plans Is Part of His Daily Schedule". Daily Nation Mobile (Nairobi). Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  3. ↑ Njanja, Annie (7 February 2014). "Life Was Not Smooth For Britam Chief". Nairobi News. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  4. ↑ Leon, . (4 July 2011). "From Grass To Grace: How Benson Wairegi Transformed A KSh600,000 Investment To a Multibillion Business". BritishAmericanBlogSpot. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
  5. ↑ Reuters, . "Brief Biography & Corporate Profile of Benson Irungu Wairegi". Reuters Finance. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
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