The Google Arts and Culture project aims to digitize and promote Kenya ’s cultural heritage and spur engagement with audiences across different communities, generations and geographies/AFP NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 7 – Google has picked Agnes Gathaiya as the new director for the East Africa region.
Gaithaya replaces Charles Murito who was assigned another role at Google as the Director for Sub Saharan Africa, Government Affairs & Public Policy.
In her new role she will be expected to manage regional operations for East Africa, developing & executing the organization’s in-country strategy for innovation and growth in line with Google’s regional priorities and mission, vision, and values.
At the same time, she will also be responsible for contributing to in-country growth of Google products and services such as Search, YouTube, Maps , building and managing strategic partnerships, including relationships with leading advertisers, agencies, and clients and attracting advertisers and drive ad revenue growth.
Gaithaya has over 21 years of experience in in organizational transformation, focused on developing strategy, and providing commercial leadership in sales and business development.
She previously worked as Chief Executive of Integrated Payment Services Limited after she left Safaricom where she was the head of Enterprise Sales and the Public Sector general manager at the defunct Chase Bank.
She was also a director at SAP, heading strategy, and increasing the company’s visibility in Kenya and Rwanda.
Gaithaya holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Bryn Mawr College and a Global Executive master’s in business administration from USIU and Columbia University.
She sits on several boards including One Acre Fund where she is an independent director. Others United way, African Women in Fintech and Payments, and the Payments Association of Kenya.