CEO – Regional Insurance Brokerage

Company Description
Location:
Nairobi, Kenya

Region:
East Africa, based in Kenya

Reports to:
Board of Directors

Type:
Full-Time Executive Role

Sector:
Financial Services – Insurance Broking

Package:
Competitive with performance-based incentives tied to transformation KPIs

Size:
Annual turnover Kshs 1.2B. 40 staff.

Position Summary
We are seeking a bold, values-driven, commercially astute and turnaround-capable Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead a regional insurance brokerage through an ambitious growth and modernisation phase. This role demands a strategic operator with a proven record in insurance broking, transformation leadership, operational excellence, and stakeholder management in regulated environments.

The CEO will be responsible for executing a modernisation strategy driving performance across product lines, broker, commercial and enabling teams and countries, while embedding a culture of accountability, customer excellence, and sustainable growth.

The CEO will lead a strategic and cultural transformation, with a strong focus on commercial revitalization and external market engagement. The CEO will leverage the organization's deep technical expertise, and bring hands-on leadership in marketing, business development, client engagement, and partnership structuring.

Job Description
Key Accountabilities and Outcomes
Strategic Leadership

• Lead execution of a multi-year modernisation plan, aligning with the investor-backed transformation pillars of: market diversification, digital alignment, talent renewal, financial discipline, and governance.
• Translate strategic goals into annual operating plans, budgets, and departmental and individual performance for all operating entities.

Commercial and Growth Leadership

• Drive top-line growth by expanding broker productivity, cross-selling, corporate client acquisition, and market share in targeted segments.
• Personally, oversee strategic accounts and high-stakes client/partner negotiations.
• Build and mentor a business development function focused on institutional deals, intermediated channels, and regional partnerships.
• Lead marketing strategy and implementation across digital, content, events, and brand positioning, translating awareness into pipeline value.
• Guide new product development and innovation in response to customer feedback and market opportunities.
• Expand and deepen strategic partnerships across East and Southern Africa and with global partners.

Financial Stewardship

• Deliver financial KPIs and strategic milestones
• Ensure strict budget adherence, cash flow optimization, and performance-driven cost control.
• Drive rigorous, structured financial reviews to ensure the business stays aligned with its strategic objectives, controls costs, maximizes returns, and meets stakeholder expectations.

Operational Excellence

• Optimize claims and policy management workflows across all business units, subsidiaries and correspondent partners.
• Embed automation, data integrity, and cross-border consistency in client experience and internal service delivery.
• Oversee performance dashboards and quarterly reviews to drive broker and departmental accountability.
• Integrate marketing and sales performance into broker and departmental scorecards. Ensure CRM, campaign tracking, and lead conversion metrics are reported and acted upon.

People and Culture Transformation

• Build and develop a high-performance executive and broker leadership team aligned with strategic KPIs.
• Build a high-performance commercial team (marketing, business development, client experience) and embed market-driven thinking across all functions.
• Lead implementation of a performance culture linked to learning and development, incentives, and scorecards.
• Foster ethical leadership, values-based behaviour, and a culture of action, accountability and integrity in line with Board expectations.

Digital & Brand Modernization

• Oversee the modernization of the IT stack, CRM systems, digital client platforms, and marketing infrastructure.
• Elevate brand visibility across digital channels and partnership ecosystems.

Governance, Risk and Stakeholder Relations

• Represent the brokerage at board, investor, regulatory, and industry levels.
• Ensure full compliance with local insurance and financial regulations across all jurisdictions of operation.
• Maintain regular and transparent reporting to the board on financial, operational, and strategic metrics incorporating operational efficiency, financial discipline, technology and brand modernisation, market and product diversification, people, culture and talent renewal, governance and leadership

Performance Impact Metrics

• Revenue/new premium
• Cost management
• Margin protection
• Free cashflow
• Client growth/retention
• Lead conversion
• Client lifetime value
• Client satisfaction score
• Net promoters score
• Employee engagement
• Productivity
• Employee satisfaction Employee net promoters score
• Brand awareness / perception / loyalty
• Automation and digitisation
• System availability, uptime and utilisation

Qualifications

Ideal Candidate Profile
Professional Experience

• 15+ years of experience in insurance broking, financial services or risk advisory; 7+ years in C-suite or P&L leadership.
• Proven turnaround experience in medium-sized or PE/VC-backed environments.
• Experience operating across African markets and regulated multi-jurisdictional settings preferred.
• Track record of building and scaling marketing and BD functions in financial or insurance sectors.
• Hands-on experience in enterprise sales, B2B client engagement, or broker-channel growth.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic execution and operational rigour
• High emotional intelligence and team empowerment
• Focus, resilience, courage, decisiveness, and forward momentum
• Commercial leadership & deal-making acumen with financial discipline
• Client engagement & institutional sales strategy
• Marketing vision and tactical delivery oversight
• Stakeholder engagement and board management
• Technological fluency and digital innovation mindset

Academic & Certification Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Insurance, Finance or related field (mandatory)
• MBA or executive leadership certification (preferred)
• CII, AIIK, or equivalent insurance qualification (mandatory)
• Exposure to ESG and data-driven governance is an advantage

Additional Information

Application & Selection Process
This role will follow a rigorous multi-stage process assessment process, including stakeholder panel interviews, strategy case presentation, psychometric and leadership assessments, and board engagement. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.

How to Apply:
To express interest or refer a suitable candidate, please apply via our website

with subject line:
Executive Opportunity: CEO – Regional Insurance Brokerage
.

We look forward to welcoming you to our team

Only qualified candidates will be contacted.