Non-bank financial services provider Sanlam Kenya has announced the appointment of Ms. Caroline Laichena as the new Sanlam general insurance Chief Executive Officer.
The appointment of Ms. Laichena effective November 1st follows a series of competitive recruitment processes and is part of Sanlam Kenya’s on-going efforts to deepen its leadership capacity for business growth.
While making the announcement, Sanlam Kenya Group CEO Dr. Patrick Tumbo said the new CEO will spearhead on-going business reforms geared at accelerating growth.
At the helm of Sanlam general insurance, Ms. Laichena joins her Sanlam life counterpart Ms. Stella Njung’e providing leadership support for Dr. Tumbo as the subsidiary CEO’s and principal officers.
Prior to her appointment, Ms. Laichena has been serving as the acting CEO since January 2019, following the exit of former Sanlam general insurance CEO Mr. George Kuria. Ms. Laichena who was then the head of operations played a critical role in the return to profitability of Sanlam general insurance.
She started off her career as a management trainee at the then lion of Kenya insurance company 19 years ago before joining ICEA, jubilee insurance, cannon assurance and heritage insurance in various positions. She served as Saham Assurance Co Kenya LTD general manager in charge of the firm’s general business division prior to joining Sanlam Kenya in September 2016
Last year, Sanlam general insurance returned an underwriting profit of Kshs 40.9million with a profit before tax of Kshs 193.6million up from Kshs 102.3million posted the previous year.
