
Allan Kilavuka is the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Kenya Airways, the nation’s largest carrier.
Kilavuka holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of Nairobi and a Postgraduate Certificate in Psychology from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Before joining the national carrier, Kilavuka served as the CEO of Jambojet and held various senior leadership positions at General Electric.
In November this year, Kilavuka was appointed Chairperson of the African Airlines Association (AFRAA), assuming the role at the 56th Annual General Assembly and Summit held in Cairo, Egypt. This marked a significant milestone for both Kenya Airways and Africa’s aviation industry.
In May 2024, he was honoured with the African Aviation Leadership Award by African Aviation Magazine. The award recognises individuals, companies, and organisations that have made significant contributions to advancing Africa’s aviation sector.
In June this year, the board of directors of Kenya Airways (KQ) extended Kilavuka’s contract by three years, citing his ability to steer the airline industry in Kenya towards recovery. Under his leadership, Kenya Airways has shown signs of transitioning from a loss-making entity to a profit-making enterprise.
Kilavuka has over 23 years of experience in leadership and management, coupled with extensive knowledge of the African business environment.
Additionally, he has demonstrated success in establishing new organisations, managing change, financial planning, business integrations, process improvement, compliance, and strategic leadership.