Centum CEO named Young Africa Business Leader of the Year 2011
Centum Investment Company Limited CEO, James Mworia, has been named the Africa Young Business Leader of the Year 2011 at the just-concluded inaugural All Africa Business Leader Awards (AABLA) ceremony at Sandton Sun in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Mr. Mworia was among leading African business executives honored during the ceremony held on Thursday last week, for making a difference through innovation in their industry sectors.
Also honored during the ceremony were a number of business luminaries on the African continent for their contribution toward the success of their companies and industries.
Nigerian business magnate, Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group with interests spanning food processing, cement manufacturing, and freight, won two awards for Africa Business Leader of the Year and Africa Entrepreneur of The Year.
Sim Tshabalala, Deputy CEO for Standard Bank Group, also won two awards, namely, CNBC Africa Business Success in Africa award and Leadership in Arts award.
Maria Ramos, CEO ABSA Group, South Africa, won the Africa Businesswoman of the Year award while the founder of retail giant, Pick ‘n’ Pay, Raymond Ackerman received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his vision for the retail sector.
According to a statement issued by AABLA founder and Chairman for ABN Group, Rakesh Wahi, the awards will be “an annual event aiming to discover and celebrate African business leaders, create a culture of entrepreneurship and develop best practices and sustainable business models both on the continent and in the global economy.”
Mr. Mworia has been CEO of Centum and its subsidiaries since October 2008. In that period the portfolio of the investment portfolio of the Centum has more than doubled to Kshs 15 Billion. Centum has also ventured out of Kenya to the rest of Africa and has engaged in new lines of business such as Real Estate and Infrastructure. Mr. Mworia, said that, “that the award was an honour not only to Centum but to the Country and he credited the achievement to the efforts of the Centum team and the guidance of the Board of Directors. He indicated that Centum was in the middle of implementing an ambitious strategic plan and this recognition was a challenge to the Company to redouble its efforts for the benefit of the community and the 38,000 shareholders of the Company”
Mr. Mworia has earned the CFA Charter, is a Certified Public Accountant, a Chartered Management Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from the University of Nairobi. Mr Mworia is also Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.