As CEO managing relationships, be it with investors, customers or employees is key. I also work with the team so that strategy is executed successfully.
Kindly tell us about Car & General. (Outlining the vision & mission).
Car & General was established in 1936 and was quoted on the NSE in 1950. Wecre-structured in 1996 and 1997 and we are now behind a wide range of renowned engineering and automotive products in East Africa . C&G is headquartered in Nairobi with branches in Mombasa, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kitengela, Malindi, Kisii, Siaya, Kitale, Voi, Kericho, Eldoret, Bungoma, Malindi and Siaya. We are also in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. Our vision is to make customers smile in every street, every town. Our mission is to achieve leadership position in power generation, automotive and engine- related products in East Africa. We want to number one in all core markets.
What’s your pitch to the most talented job seekers who might be interested to join Car & General?
We are an equal opportunity employer seeking to hire the best in the market with a trainable attitude and disciplined thought. We love people who have self-drive, innovative minds, team players and with ability to work with minimum supervision. Our management trainee program has seen good people develop through the organization. We have also developed core values that our people practice consistently to make Car & General stand out. These are; making customers smile (in every street in every town), quality (products, processes and people), integrity (doing the right thing every minute, every day), innovation (maximizing output at minimum cost) and empowerment (taking responsibility).
What effective strategies have you implemented to ensure Car & General achieves success?
We strive to keep customers happy in every street, every town, our products portfolio boasts of the best brands in the world and have the best people managing the business. We believe that to achieve our corporate obligations, we must have disciplined people, disciplined thought, disciplined communication, disciplined action and disciplined performance!
Corporate culture is one of the critical aspects of a company that attracts and makes employees stay. How would you describe Car & General’s corporate culture?
Our open door policy and empowering of employees to make the right decisions. We want to be the best place to work. We know open and transparent communication impacts on corporate culture. We strive to be clear and respectful, timely every time. Communication is two-way! We encourage members to share their views freely.
You believe in initiatives of touching people’s lives, tell us about your corporate social responsibility program.
The engine donation program has benefitted over 50 technical institutions and universities. The eye care program has helped the needy in society get proper medical attention by subsidizing the cost of medication and glasses.
For the benefit of those wondering what it would be like to be a C.E.O, can you describe a typical day in your working life? What is your greatest achievement at C&G?
As CEO managing relationships, be it with investors, customers or employees is key. I also work with the team so that strategy is executed successfully. A successful CEO must be on top of every aspect of the business from sales, finance, marketing and legal, among others. Being in charge of corporate culture means that the organization is a reflection of its leader. I also spend time seeking new partnerships and investment opportunities. The 50 : 50 joint venture between Car & General Limited and Cummins. Operations for this Company began in April 2017.Car & General was first appointed as an approved Cummins distributor of Power Generation products in 2006. We also pioneered in the two wheeler and three wheeler business that transformed transport in this region.
