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EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENTS

E-commerce player Jumia appoints a new CEO for Kenyan operation

By our News Team | 2023

Widely experienced executive Charles Ballard takes up the reins after holding various senior positions with the company.

Pan-African e-commerce company Jumia has announced the appointment of Charles Ballard as the new CEO of its Kenyan operation. He replaces Juan Seco, who departed after eight years to join Mukuru, the Africa-focused fintech company.

Ballard joined Jumia in 2019 and has previously served as Head of Performance and Planning, Chief Operating Officer, and as Senior Vice President – Commercials for the company.

Executive Appointments

Photo credit: Jumia

“I am excited to continue driving the e-commerce narrative in rural Kenya, where more than 70% of the population lives,” Ballard said.

“Access to Modern Retail is a challenge in these areas, which is a great opportunity to grow our online marketplace. E-commerce can bring better prices, more choices and convenience to the rural Kenyans.”

Before joining Jumia, he was a retail consultant at Sagaci Research in Kenya from 2015 to 2019, working on retail and e-commerce projects across more than 15 African countries.

Kenyan-based executive with an NGO

He has also been a Kenyan-based executive with the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (commonly known as ACTED), a French humanitarian non-governmental organisation.

Ballard holds a master’s degree from the ESSEC Business School (France) and a BSc in International Development from the London School of Economics.

Jumia is a key player in the continent’s e-commerce space and is sometimes known as the ‘Amazon of Africa’ due to its involvement in more than a dozen countries.

But the going has not been easy and its once-aggressive expansion strategy has been pared back as it continues to make losses and the share price struggles after coming off a high in early 2021.

There has been a management shakeup and a cost-cutting drive which has included retrenchments and exiting unprofitable segments like logistics-as-a-service and grocery delivery. It has also struggled with supply chain problems and foreign currency fluctuations.

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Dr. Kin Kariisa is an extraordinary force at the helm of Next Media Services, a conglomerate encompassing NBS TV, Nile Post, Sanyuka TV, Next Radio, Salam TV, Next Communication, Next Productions, and an array of other influential enterprises. His dynamic role as Chief Executive Officer exemplifies his unwavering commitment to shaping media, business, and community landscapes.
With an esteemed academic journey, Dr. Kariisa’s accolades include an Honorary PhD in exemplary community service from the United Graduate College inTexas, an MBA from United States International University in Nairobi, Kenya, a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Huazong University in China, and a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics from Makerere University.
Dr. Kariisa pursued PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radboud University in Nijmegen, Netherlands. As a dynamic educator, he has shared his expertise as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at both Makerere University and Radboud University.

Dr Kin did his PhD research in Computer Security and Identity Management at Security of Systems Group, Radbond University in Nigmegen, Netherlands. He previously served as a lecturer of e-Government and Information Security at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda and Radbond University in Netherlands.

Dr Kin did his postgraduate courses in Strategic Business Management, Strategic Leadership Communication and Strategies for Leading Successful Change Initiatives at Harvard University, Boston USA.

  • Other current and previous roles played by Dr Kin Kariisa:
  • Lecturer of e-Government and Information Security to graduate students at Makerere University, Kampala and Radbond University in the Netherlands
  • Director of Eco Bank Uganda Limited, one of the largest banks in Africa
  • Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters, an umbrella industry association for all Television, Radio and online broadcasters in Uganda.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Nile Hotel International, that owns the leading hotel in Uganda, Kampala Serena Hotel.
  • Chairman of Board of Directors of Soliton Telmec Uganda, the leading telecom company in Optic fibre business managing over 80% of optic fibre in Uganda.