(Adds details, background)
NAIROBI, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Kenya's top telecoms operator
Safaricom has named Peter Ndegwa as its new CEO, it
said on Thursday, ending a three-month search for a new leader
following the death of its long-time head Bob Collymore.
East Africa's most profitable company, which is part-owned
by South Africa's Vodacom and Britain's Vodafone
, has been led since July by an interim CEO after the
death of Collymore.
Ndegwa joins from brewer Diageo, where he has served
as managing director of the company's continental European
business, overseeing operations in 50 countries, Safaricom said
in a statement.
His appointment becomes effective on April 1, 2020, the
company added.
Safaricom controls about 62% of Kenya's mobile market, with
30 million subscribers. The company is 35% owned by Vodacom,
while Vodafone has a 5% stake.
(Reporting By Maggie Fick, George Obulutsa and Omar Mohammed;
additional reporting by Duncan Miriri; Editing by Deepa
Babington and Pravin Char)