Head of Marketing and Innovation

About the organisation

The organisation is a fast-growing, homegrown Kenyan retail business with a strong national footprint and an ambitious growth agenda. Founded in Kenya and now operating dozens of branches across the country, it has built its success around a fresh, convenient and locally relevant customer proposition. The organisation is now seeking to strengthen its position as a leading retailer in Kenya while expanding its relevance across more counties and, over time, the wider East African market. 

Context and Ambition 

• The organisation has grown from a single Kenyan retail operation into a national network of branches spread across many counties.
• It is pursuing an aggressive growth strategy to become the retailer of choice across Kenya and the wider East African market.
• The business is anchored in a fresh, convenient and locally authentic customer proposition.
• The next phase of growth requires stronger integration of physical retail excellence, loyalty, e-commerce, fintech-enabled customer engagement and data-driven consumer insight.
• The successful candidate will join at a pivotal stage in the organisation’s national and regional expansion journey.

Job Summary

• Lead the marketing and innovation agenda for a fast-scaling Kenyan retail organisation with national and regional growth ambitions.
• Develop and execute a world-class corporate marketing strategy that strengthens brand positioning and supports market leadership.
• Bridge physical in-store excellence with digital-first customer engagement, including loyalty, e-commerce and data-led initiatives.
• Champion innovation across fintech, modern FMCG, consumer experience and retail formats.
• Use deep insight into Kenyan and East African consumers to shape locally relevant marketing strategies.
• Partner closely with executive leadership, including the Managing Director for Kenya, to support growth, differentiation and commercial performance.

Experience and Capabilities

• Minimum of 12 years’ relevant experience, ideally spanning retail, consumer goods, FMCG, fintech, e-commerce or data-driven consumer experience environments.
• Strong marketing leadership experience with clear evidence of commercial impact and strategic execution.
• World-class corporate strategy skills and the ability to operate at senior leadership level.
• Strong data analytics capability and confidence using insight to inform customer propositions, loyalty, campaigns and innovation.
• Experience linking physical retail excellence with digital innovation, including loyalty programmes and e-commerce platforms.
• Deep understanding of Kenyan and/or East African consumer behaviour, retail dynamics and market opportunity.

Personal Profile

• Kenyan national with fluency in English and Swahili.
• Commercially minded marketing and innovation leader with the credibility to influence executive stakeholders.
• Disruptive, forward-looking thinker who can balance ambitious innovation with practical execution.
• Culturally aligned and locally grounded, with a strong appreciation of the Kenyan consumer psyche.
• Comfortable working in a fast-scaling, entrepreneurial and performance-oriented environment.
• Able to incorporate leadership input while confidently driving distinctive, future-focused solutions.

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