M-Pesa Boss Quits Safaricom One Year after Taking Office

Kenya's giant telecommunication firm Safaricom says that it has parted ways with M-Pesa boss Ronald Webb. Webb exits Safaricom at a critical time when the firm kick started a major upgrade of the mobile money platform.

Ronald Webb, who has been the director of financial services at Safaricom following his poaching from Equity, stepped down from the position on Monday, barely a year after taking charge.

Safaricom chief executive officer Bob Collymore on Monday informed employees of Webb’s imminent departure to the UK citing family issues.

“I wish him all the best as he returns following 18 productive years in Kenya,” Collymore said in a memo to the staffs. “In the meantime, I would like to ask that we all give our usual support to Brian Wamatu, who will be standing in as interim director, financial services.”

Webb was key in crafting growth of Equity Bank’s mobile money payments platform, Equitel before Safaricom courted him.

Webb is credited with being the co-founder and chief architect of the Paynet and PesaPoint payment platforms in Zimbabwe and Kenya prior to joining Equity Bank.