Bill Lee the governor of Tennessee on Thursday, September 5, appointed 42-year-old Kenyan, Hodgen Mainda, to serve in his government as the commissioner for commerce and insurance.
Mainda moved to the US for the first time in 2008 as a rugby player.
He now becomes the first Kenyan in Tennessee to hold such a position.
Before his appointment, Mainda worked government relations and business development roles in Nashville, Knoxville and Chattanooga.
“Mainda joins my cabinet after an outstanding career as a community leader in Chattanooga,
"He is respected for his ability to build partnerships across multiple sectors and we welcome his leadership to such a multifaceted department like commerce and insurance," Governor Lee announced.
The 2018 graduate of the Harvard Business School Young American Leaders Programme is also in the Leadership Tennessee Class of 2019.
"I am thrilled for the state of Tennessee to have such a wonderful young leader in such a very important role," stated State Representative Robin Smith who is also the chairman of the House Insurance Committee.
He is the son of Dr Steve Mainda who serves as the board chair of Housing Finance Group, Continental Reinsurance and a Board member of Shelter Afrique among other finance and insurance companies.
Mainda Junior, a graduate of the University of Eastern Africa Baraton is expected to take up his new role in October.
He currently lives in Chattanooga with his wife an two children.
