Safaricom PLC has appointed Frankline Okata as Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer, replacing Cynthia Karuri-Kropac who held the position for two years.
Cynthia Karuri-Kropac joined Safaricom in September 2022 after nearly two decades at AT&T Inc. At AT&T, she climbed from Senior IT Client Account Manager at Bell South in 2003 to Senior Director of Enterprise Mobile & IoT Technologies by 2019.
Her career spanned multiple roles, including Director of Mobile Service Delivery at Cingular Wireless and Global Lead & Director of Enterprise Solutions.
Her credentials include an MBA in Finance from Kent University and recognition as a Rising Star in STEM by Women of Color Magazine. She also received the Top Supplier of the Year award for the largest Healthcare OEM globally.
Meanwhile, Frankline Okata started at Safaricom in 2006 as a Customer Care Representative and moved to the Enterprise Business Unit in 2011.
His career progression indicates internal talent development, accumulating expertise in B2B sales, payments, corporate portfolio management, and business process improvement.
From January 2022 to January 2024, Okata was seconded to Safaricom Ethiopia as Executive Head of Merchant Payments during the company’s expansion into one of Africa’s largest telecommunications markets.
Upon returning to Kenya, he took on the role of Head of Packaged Solutions, focusing on digital solutions for small and micro businesses.
In his current role, Okata curates digital solutions for small and micro businesses while building alternative delivery channels through digital, retail, and indirect methods.
He also leads the development of the Safaricom Business Hub, positioning the company as a comprehensive digital services provider beyond traditional connectivity.
This leadership change occurs as Safaricom faces increasing competition in East African markets while pursuing aggressive growth in enterprise services.
The appointment of someone with deep institutional knowledge and recent regional experience implies the company is prioritizing local market understanding over international telecommunications experience.
Karuri-Kropac has not revealed her next career move.
