New Standard Group CEO Marion Gathoga vows to revitalize company amidst challenges

A promise of rebirth and renewed hope for The Standard Group has emerged in the person of newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Marion Gathoga, who took office seven days ago.

The group runs East and Central Africa's oldest newspaper, The Standard, a historical fact appreciated by the new boss who has outlined her vision for revitalising the company.

"The Standard, without doubt, is a case of Kenya's heritage. The paper has recorded all entities that have done business in Kenya in the last more than 100 years," Gathoga told The Situation Room team on Spice FM on Wednesday.

"This is one thing that we must protect."

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Gathoga, who brings a wealth of experience from various sectors, believes in positively impacting people, a philosophy that aligns well with the nature of the media business.

She has made several key commitments to lead the organisation through its current challenges to success.

During the radio interview, Gathoga expressed her determination to address the company's difficulties and see it through.

"It is not the first time I am handling a company that is in this state. There are places that I have walked in and banks have taken over. That is not the case here," she said.

"A problem is only addressed if it is known. That is my current challenge: to understand the problem in a way that allows me and the team to find the solutions," she added.

She emphasised the importance of maintaining employees' dignity during the turnaround process.

"The thing about turnarounds is that some people will leave the company and others will join. But what I have learned from my many experiences in this kind of work is the importance of giving people dignity. The last thing you want is to destroy a person and give them reasons to stay down," she said.

Gathoga, who has been with the company for just seven days, has been engaging with staff to understand internal processes.

She plans to use the first 100 days to focus on understanding the business, its value, and the roles of various stakeholders.

"I’ve got this 1,000-day principle bedded down in practice and reality. In the first six or three months, you get into a situation and understand what that business is and what value it offers. You use the first few days to plan," she explained.

Acknowledging the need for digital transformation, Gathoga also emphasised the importance of maintaining the company’s traditional newspaper readership.

"The view and the insights I have from being here over the last seven days and as I was preparing to come have focused on digitising our products and meeting the market demands. I will tap into the expertise within the company and provide leadership to drive these changes," she said.

While addressing the business sector, Gathoga urged stakeholders and the government to engage in discussions to resolve existing issues and move past previous hurdles. She expressed her commitment to collective success.

"Give us grace and trust that we want to succeed. I have a proven track record of success; I wouldn’t be here by chance. This organisation is going to rise," Gathoga assured stakeholders and business partners.

The new CEO reached out to advertising agencies, stating: "For the advertising agencies, let’s have a conversation about how we can work together. My office is open to those who want to express their frustrations and to those who want to move forward into a new era."

With her wide experience in executive management, which has seen her serve corporations outside Kenya's borders, Gathoga expressed her love for the country.

"I love my country and I love my government. The government’s success is crucial for the success of the rest of us. I empathise with them, and I ask them to also empathise with us, including respecting our freedom and allowing us to be the voice of society as we strive to be."

Gathoga's dynamic and resolute enthusiasm comes amidst reports of insolvency affecting a company that has been operational for over a century. Despite the challenges, she approaches her new role with a proactive mindset, showing a strong commitment to reviving The Standard Group.

Her enthusiasm is evident in her strategic vision, her focus on understanding and addressing core issues, and her plans to lead the organisation towards a renewed period of growth and success.

 Profile

Marion Gathoga is an accomplished senior executive with over 26 years of local and international experience in commercial operations excellence and general management across various sectors.

She holds a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in International Business Administration from the United States International University (USIU). Before her appointment to SG, she held executive roles at Linde Group PLC, African Oxygen Pty (AFROX), and BOC Kenya PLC.

Her previous positions include Healthcare Director, where she led access to medical gases in Africa; Business Unit Director of Bulk and Onsite Manufacturing in South Africa; and Managing Director.