The Nation Media Group CEO Stephen Gitagama, announced changes to its top leadership on Tuesday, February 1, 2022.
In a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, NMG stated that the new changes were made to reshape its journalism, grow partnerships and explore new streams for content and commercial.
NMG management aded that the editorial changes were crucial as "survival depends on building a diverse and youthful talent pool to take the Nation Media Group to the future."
The Editor-in-Chief: Mutuma Mathiu was named as the Editor-in-Chief by the management, He was tasked with providing effective strategic editorial stewardship straddling journalism, commercial, technology and stakeholder management.
Mathiu will be reporting to the Group Chief Executive Officer.
Pamella Sittoni who was the Group Executive Editor in charge of the Daily Nation was appointed as the Executive Editor in charge of Partnerships.
In her new role, Sittoni was tasked with helping build the Nation of the future by providing leadership in three of the most critical emerging areas: partnerships, on which our journalism increasingly relies, training - identifying the group’s talent needs and developing them through innovative training programmes.
Bernard Mwinzi, who was Managing Editor Weekends, was redeployed as the Managing Editor, Daily Nation. He will be leading the Group’s flagship title as well as being involved in content generation and will assist in the ideation and editing of branded content, supervise the Health Desk and set up a Climate Desk to explore new content and partnership ideas.
Churchill Otieno was also given a new role as Head of News and Managing Editor, Nation Africa. He had served as the Head of Development and Learning. The NMG management tasked him with leading the news team with the responsibility of ensuring appropriate content is provided to all platforms.
Gitama also announced that Dorcas Muga, who was the Gender Editor, has been appointed Partnerships Manager and Gender Editor. Muga will harmonise the operations of all partnership projects to ensure reporting compliance with contracts and successful execution of mandates.
Managing Editor, Weekends: Washington Gikunju was promoted to replace Mwinzi at the Weekends. He will ensure the digitization of the Weekends in terms of service to their audience and revenue potential, their increased contribution to Nation.Africa, significant circulation growth and leadership of the national conversation.
Elias Makori was promoted to Managing Editor Sports where he will lead a converged sports function, serving all current platforms.
"He will also synergise with editors across the Group, ensure that NMG becomes a sporting powerhouse on the continent and develop even further partnerships with sporting bodies. Elias reports to the Editor-in-Chief," Gitama's statement read in part.
Catherine Wanyama was appointed as Editorial Quality Lead, tasked with converging and leading the quality function while Alex Ndegwa was appointed as the Enterprise Editor to lead the generation of prime content.
Allan Olingo assumed the role of Continuity Editor responsible for breaking news. He will also lead a multi-media crack team that will be on the ground whenever a story breaks. Lynette Mukami was appointed as the Audience Editor and in her role, she will be tasked with adding urgency to consistency to the newsroom’s efforts to engage, serve and develop audiences.
Kenfrey Kiberenge was promoted to Editor, Community and Nairobi News. He will be responsible for executing the dual function of leading community reporting across the country and reviving Nairobi News to serve the Nairobi metropolitan region. He will also establish similar products for NMG key markets such as Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, Mt Kenya.
Patrick Lang’at was named the Political and Parliamentary Affairs Editor. He will be responsible for NMG coverage of Parliament and politics in general. Caroline Wafula was appointed as the Regional Editor, Eldoret while Justus Wanga was promoted to Regional Editor, Kisumu.
Aggrey Mutambo was promoted to the News Editor, The EastAfrican while Harry Misiko was named the News Editor, Africa: tasked with leading the gathering of content for Africa.
Angela Oketch who was the Senior Health Reporter was promoted to Senior Reporter and will continue reporting for the Health Desk and supporting the Service Hub as necessary. Amina Wako was appointed as a reporter based at the Health Desk.
