Safaricom has officially confirmed the departure of Chief Enterprise Business Officer Cynthia Karuri-Kropac, ending speculation that followed her sudden exit last week. The telecommunications giant has appointed Frankline Okata, formerly the Tribe Lead – Packaged Solutions, as the Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer, effective July 5, 2025.
The announcement was made by Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa in an internal communication released to staff and media houses.
“I wish to announce that I have appointed Frankline Okata, currently the Tribe Lead – Packaged Solutions, as the Acting Chief Enterprise Business Officer, effective 5th July 2025,” said Mr. Ndegwa.
While Safaricom did not explain the circumstances surrounding Kropac’s departure, the statement acknowledged her contributions to the enterprise segment, noting that she officially left the company on July 4, 2025.
“This change follows the departure of Cynthia Kropac, who will be leaving the organisation on 4th July 2025,” read part of the statement.
Unclear Exit, But Notable Impact
Cynthia Kropac joined Safaricom in September 2022 and played a critical role in revamping the enterprise business strategy, particularly by advancing digital solutions tailored to Kenya’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
She led the ‘Grow with Safaricom Business’ initiative, a key programme aimed at helping MSMEs thrive through digital tools and targeted capacity-building efforts. Her leadership also saw Safaricom push further into emerging enterprise services, including Cloud computing, IoT, and ICT-based solutions.
A standout achievement was her team’s deployment of integrated ICT solutions to county governments, aimed at improving public service delivery.
“Under her leadership, the cluster has made progress around enterprise customer segmentation… including refreshing the Safaricom Business brand,” Ndegwa stated.
No Word on Next Steps
Safaricom did not disclose whether Kropac’s departure was voluntary or related to internal restructuring. Additionally, her next career move remains unknown.
The delay in announcing her exit, which took effect on July 4 but was only confirmed publicly on July 17, has raised speculation about whether her departure occurred under amicable conditions.
As the enterprise segment remains a key growth area for Safaricom, all eyes will now be on Frankline Okata as he assumes the acting leadership role.
