Independent Non-Executive Director

Company Overview

Pwani Oil is a leading Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) manufacturer in East Africa, with a strong portfolio of trusted brands in edible oils, soaps, and personal care products. The company is focused on new category growth, customer acquisition, and embedding marketing fundamentals across the organisation. With a strong reputation for quality and community engagement, Pwani Oil is positioned for continued expansion across the region.

About the Board

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Board composition: The board is results-oriented, open-minded, and committed to learning and innovation.

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Expectations: Contribute as a strategist and innovator, providing commercial insight, strong governance oversight, and pragmatic advice.

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Tenure: Current board tenure is two (2) years, with annual review of appointment.

Add to this established board's capabilities by bringing deep marketing expertise, particularly in brand positioning, digital marketing, customer acquisition, and CSR/PR activities.

Responsibilities

The role of Independent Non-Executive Director will include the following:

Board Role

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Attend four (4) board meetings per annum (there is strong preference for in-person attendance).

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Provide strategic input on corporate positioning, customer acquisition, and marketing ROI.

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Contribute to wider board deliberations on governance, risk, and organisational strategy.

Committee Role: Chairperson of the Marketing Committee

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Chair six (6) Marketing Committee meetings per annum, aligned partially with board meetings.

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Mentor and guide the Head of Marketing, and provide both hands-on guidance and high-level strategic direction.

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Review past performance and planned activities, and assist the marketing team in navigating challenges.

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Focus areas for the next 12–24 months include new product launches, customer acquisition, process/structure, and digital marketing execution.

Candidate ProfileSkills and Experience

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Track record of driving growth via new category expansion, from opportunity sizing to launch and scale.

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Minimum of a university degree; a postgraduate diploma or higher is preferred.

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Proven track record in marketing, sales, and/or international trading, ideally in FMCG or related consumer industries.

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Demonstrated expertise in digital and B2C/B2B marketing as well as brand building, international expansion and customer analytics (non-negotiable)

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Strong commercial acumen with experience in strategy, business modelling, and innovation.

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Understanding of customer feedback loops, data mining, and marketing communication.

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Business experience in the African market essential – East Africa strongly preferred.

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A skill set in customer acquisition and creating experiential activity checks with ROI is not essential but is of value.

Personal Qualities

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Independent thinker with integrity and courage of conviction.

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Collaborative, diplomatic, and able to build consensus.

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Open-minded, innovative, and forward-thinking.

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Strong networking ability.

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IT and automation familiarity advantageous.

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Prior NED experience is not mandatory, but candidates must demonstrate success at a senior corporate level and carry a strong reputation.

Practicalities

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Meetings: Four (4) board and six (6) committee meetings annually, held in Mombasa, Kenya.

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Fees: USD 6,000 annual board fee plus USD 600 per meeting attended.

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Travel/accommodation: Covered as part of meeting attendance fees.

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Appointment date: The appointment is expected to commence in November 2025, subject to final board approval.

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Selection process: Three-stage interview, culminating with the board chairperson (in-person).

Applications/Enquiries

Note: Pwani Oil does not accept direct applications for this role. All enquiries/applications are to be sent to