Air transportation - Kenya Airways has identified Mbuvi Ngunze as its new Chief Operations Officer to replace Bram Steller.Ngunze, currently the chief executive officer of Mbeya Cement, a Lafarge Group company, in Tanzania, will take up the appointment in September. The listed-carrier issued a memo to all staff announcing the appointment yesterday. A source familiar with the development said Ngunze, who has been with Lafarge for the last 14 years, was specifically headhunted through consultancy Deloitte for the job.

Steller is the third top manager to leave the airline. Human Resources Director Paul Kasimu left to join East African Breweries in a similar position while Marketing Director Michael Omondi joined Airtel Kenya, also in a similar position, late last year.

Steller has been with KQ since 2008 but this has been his second stint at the carrier. He previously worked with KQ in 2001-2001 as Commercial Director.

At KQ, Ngunze will head the operations for one of Africa's largest airlines with a workforce of 4,500 compared to the 300-man staff he oversaw at Mbeya Cement. A source familiar with the development, who did not wish to be named, said Ngunze feels ready for the challenge.

He joins KQ at a time when the airline is developing its 10-year plan to map out its strategy for the coming decade. Among other things, the strategy will incorporate the expansion of its fleet with the impending arrival of its long-haul Boeing Dreamliner jets and its entry into the cargo business.

James Mbugua

Nairobi Star/22/06/2011