Michael Joseph puts legacy on the line to revive KQ

When he left telecom giant, Safaricom, in 2010 having been at the helm for ten years, Michael Joseph left a larger than life legacy with many not expecting to see him in the public limelight.

From a scrappy outfit back in 2000, Mr Joseph grew Safaricom to become one of the most profitable corporate organizations in East Africa.

Known as a no nonsense man and stickler for perfection, it was widely believed that the country had lost the services of one of the most charismatic and efficient captains of industry.

But as fate would have it Mr Joseph, now 72, is making a comeback, lined up as the next chairman of national carrier Kenya Airways.

His appointment to the board of directors in late September caught many flat footed, heightening expectation that there would be board reorganization to inject vibrancy in the face of tough financial times for the airline.

His first task would be act as the mediator between Kenya Airways and its pilots who had threatened to down their tools unless sweeping changes were made.

And true to form, the chairman in waiting, lay bare that it will take a massive shift in strategy to restore the pride back in the airline.

“My job in joining this board is not to just sit there and say everything is fine. My job is to make sure that we are successful,” Mr Joseph said during a briefing late Monday evening after striking a deal with the pilots to avert the strike.

He also took the opportunity to remind shareholders, stakeholders and Kenyans alike that that it would not be business as usual at KQ.

“You know who I am. I have a legacy and I don’t intend my legacy to be anything else than be successful and I need everybody, the pilots, the cabin crew, all the staff of Kenya Airways to be behind this and we need the public to be behind this. Because obviously there has been a loss of confidence in the airline, the brand has suffered, we need to recover that brand to make sure Kenyans still fly us,” he stressed.

Speaking during the governance and accountability summit at Statehouse, Transport Secretary James Macharia alluded to the fact that it was the governmen,t as the majority shareholder that pushed for the change at the board.

According to Mr Macharia it was important to have a smooth transition at the board which would in turn institute the necessary changes in the top management.

“Last AGM we forced some changes in terms of board composition in KQ that’s why you find this week there is the prospect of having a new chairman of the board. Those are changes that have to be planned because as an airline you have to be careful you don’t create a vacuum but in terms of changes in management I can assure you we have taken action,” Mr Macharia said.

Part of the demands by the pilots was the removal of Chairman Denis Awori as well as Chief Executive Officer Mbuvi Ngunze.

Sources within government indicate that the CEO could also be on his way out with the government keen to ensure a smooth transition.

By Sophie Kinoti and Michael Karanja