Chief Executive Officer – Nairobi

About the role

A global market leader in geographic information system software, location intelligence and mapping is looking for a strategic, results-driven Chief Executive Officer based in Nairobi. The CEO will provide overall leadership, vision and performance of the organisation, overseeing strategy execution, financial performance, operations and stakeholder engagement while driving sustainable growth, innovation and a high-performance culture aligned with Board objectives.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute long-term strategy to drive growth and market leadership.
• Build and lead a high-performance, ethical and collaborative culture.
• Act as the primary liaison with the Board, reporting on performance and strategy.
• Drive financial performance, budgeting and regulatory compliance.
• Ensure efficient and effective business operations across all functions.
• Identify and mitigate financial, legal and operational risks.
• Build strong relationships with clients, partners and regulators.
• Lead expansion initiatives, partnerships and adoption of new technologies.

Required profile

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in a relevant field such as GIS/Geomatics, Business, Finance, IT, Engineering or related.
• 7-10 years' experience in a C-suite role, with at least 5+ years in senior leadership.
• Proven track record in business growth, strategy execution and organisational performance.
• Experience in international or multi-country environments.

Required skills

• Strong financial and commercial acumen, with experience overseeing operations and budgets.
• Demonstrated leadership, people management and team-building ability.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, negotiation and influencing skills, including Board engagement.
• Experience with enterprise software platforms (ArcGIS preferred).

The vacancy is advertised by Summit Recruitment & Search Africa, an executive search agency in Kenya. Applications are handled directly by the agency; candidates who do not hear back within two weeks should apply again for other matching roles.