UPDATE Monday, March 16: Former Vivo Executive Vice President Polycarp Igathe has landed another managerial position just days after stepping down from the energy company.
While announcing that Igathe will be the new Equity Group Chief Commercial Officer, Equity Group Managing Director James Mwangi was ecstatic that the former Nairobi County deputy governor was back at the financial institution after six months. Before joining Vivo Energy, he served as Equity Banks Managing Director.
“We welcome Polycarp back to Equity and we are excited that he will continue with his role as the Group Chief Commercial Officer. A strong part of our Equity culture is keeping lasting relationships with our Equity family of staff and customers,” stated Mwangi.
Former Nairobi Deputy Governor Polycarp Igathe has resigned from his position as the Executive Vice President (EVP) Sales and Marketing at Vivo Energy.
A statement released by the company on March 13, 2020, indicated that Igathe had decided to leave the company to pursue other interests.
The company further announced that it had picked Omar Benson, the company Vice President of Retail, CR Strategy and Projects to act in his capacity on an interim basis.
The statement also added the Omar would still continue in his role and would directly answer to the company CEO Christian Chammas.
"We thank Polycarp Igathe for his contribution to Vivo Energy and wish him the very best in the future," the statement concluded.
According to the Standard, Igathe rejoined Vivo Energy in August 2019 as the Executive Vice President in charge of sales across the oil marketing company's operations in Africa.
This was after he left his job as the managing director of Equity Bank Kenya less than a year after appointment (2018), where he was reporting to the Group’s chief executive James Mwangi.
Igathe first served Vivo until he left in 2017 to join Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko in the capacity of a deputy governor before his prompt resignation in January 2018.
Before venturing into politics, Igathe had served as the first MD of VIVO Energy following its acquisition of Shell assets in 16 African countries.
While there, his full mandate was to control and oversee the business' operations, employees, and ventures.
The University of Nairobi alumnus was also the regional managing director in charge of Eastern Africa for ten years, beginning of 2003.
According to the publication, Igathe had previously worked at Haco (the consumer goods manufacturer), Coca-Cola, Africa Online and Kenya Breweries Limited.
