Joe Munene appointed Acting Standard Group CEO

Acting Standard Group PLC Chief Executive Officer, Joe Munene. [Samson Wire, Standard]

The Standard Group PLC has announced the appointment of Joe Munene as the acting Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) effective Friday, July 7.

Munene replaces Orlando Lyomu, who has since stepped down, as notified in a letter to the Board of Directors.

"The Board of Directors of the Standard Group PLC has appointed Joe Munene as the Acting Chief Executive Officer with effect from July 6, 2023. Mr Munene is currently the company's Managing Director - Broadcast Division," a circular to the Group read in part.

Munene holds over 20 years of experience in broadcast management.

Before joining the Standard Group in 2013, he served as General Manager with the Nation Media Group in Uganda. He also previously had a stint at CNBC Africa.

He holds an Executive Master's from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and a Bachelor's degree in Building Economics from the University of Nairobi.

Munene is also a graduate of the IESE Business School Advanced Management Programme in media and entertainment.

His predecessor, Lyomu, joined the media company in 2012 as the Finance Director, rising to Chief Finance Officer and eventually Chief Executive Officer in 2018.

"The Board of Directors of the Standard Group PLC wishes to notify its shareholders and the general public that the Board has accepted the resignation of Mr Orlando Lyomu as the Group Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of the company effective July 6, 2023," a circular read in part.

Lyomu oversaw several achievements, among them, the first modern converged newsroom in East and Central Africa and a digital-first media house.

The appointment is the latest in a series of changes at the company. Earlier in the week, the company announced the appointment of veteran journalist Chaacha Mwita as a Non-Executive Director, effective July 4.