At the helm of multi-billion tyre business

By Winsley Masese

Taking over a family-owned business comes with a lot of pressure. One’s management style is under the microscope and it is hard to deviate from the old culture.

However, Mr Aashit Shah, the chief executive officer of Kingsway Tyres Ltd, is confident his international experience will help him realign the family unit and steer it to even greater heights.

Founded in 1962 on Nairobi’s then Kings Street (now University Way) by Ramniklal Panachand Shah, the firm is now being run by the third generation.

The family also has a stake in Nairobi’s Tribe Hotel and Village Market.

The mission

For Mr Shah, his mission is clear: “It is all about working together as a team, being accountable and professional in management, and moving the company forward.” 

He is confident his experience in the UK as a management consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers and in investment banking will work in Kingsway’s favour.

“There is nothing better than having the experience of working outside the country for a family business,” he says. “It helps you understand how technology is moving forward and what people are thinking about the future.”

He also found that abroad, people are dependent on systems and procedures to move their businesses from generation to generation.

Shah, therefore, plans to bring on board an international standard of leadership, with investment in human capital a key driver of growth.

“Training people to become professionals in their own fields is our focus, but it is not an overnight job.”

Part of the process will include sending a team to Dubai for training, and they in turn will institute technology transfer in the company.

This is also expected to expose staff to the systems in other organisations to help them bring new thinking into the company.

Better leaders and managers

With the management of the business in the third generation, he also wants to help the staff become better leaders and managers by creating better systems.

“It will promote a culture of wanting to shine and create a pool of people doing their best to help the company achieve its goals,” Shah said.

Kingsway also plans to leverage on the increasing number of vehicles on the roads.

“We want to enhance business efficiency among transport companies and impact the overall business climate in the country.”

Kingsway has partnered with Michelin (which trained Shah), a firm with global expertise and presence, to help improve its business.

“This is the best company in the world and the culture it has created is about service and quality in providing solutions. Our association with the best is to give the best,” he said.

The company has already opened a Michelin Truck Service Centre service centre in Mombasa to ensure transporters and other road users have the necessary support. A better managed tyre, Shah says, delivers improved performance and drastically reduces costs.

“A truck can cover more than 250,000 kilometres without repair or replacement if its tyres are properly taken care of.”

He adds that well-made tyres can have an extended life span through re-treading, a feat easily achieved with technology.

“In a fleet, two key issues play a significant role in ensuring a transporter gets good returns from the investment: one is fuel, the other is tyres,” he says.

Kingsway has opened new branches in Nakuru, Kisumu, Eldoret, Meru and Kakamega to take services closer to people.

“We have also positioned ourselves as the total solution providers for saloon cars, earth movers, trucks and tractors by partnering with BFGoodrich, Apollo and Khumo Tyres,” Shah says.

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