Britam Holdings Plc has appointed Celestine Munda as Chairperson of its Board of Directors, effective October 27, 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The Nairobi Securities Exchange-listed financial services group confirmed the appointment as it advances its ASCEND 2026–2030 strategy across seven African markets, following Munda’s service as interim chair since March 30, 2026.
Munda succeeds the late Kuria Muchiru, who died on March 19, 2026. She took over the interim leadership role shortly after his death, providing continuity at board level while the company prepared to appoint a substantive chairperson. Before assuming the position, she served as an independent non-executive director and chaired Britam’s Board Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee.
The appointment brings more than three decades of experience in professional services, corporate governance, risk management and the energy sector to Britam’s board leadership. Munda previously served as Country Managing Partner for Ernst & Young (EY) Kenya, alongside senior regional and continental roles covering consulting, risk advisory and industrial-sector services.
Her career at EY included serving as Consulting Services Managing Partner for East and Central Africa and Risk Advisory Services Leader for Africa. She also held positions at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Royal Dutch Shell, gaining experience across financial management, institutional reforms, strategy, governance and business advisory services.
Beyond Britam, Munda serves on the boards of M-PESA Foundation, TradeMark Africa and Jaguar Petroleum Limited. Her board appointments span financial inclusion, regional trade and the energy industry, providing experience across sectors relevant to corporate oversight and long-term business planning.
Munda holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Accounting with honours and is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya. Her executive development includes leadership programmes at Harvard Business School and the Gordon Institute of Business Science at the University of Pretoria. She is also pursuing an Executive MBA at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business, according to Britam’s leadership profile.
Her appointment comes as Britam implements its ASCEND strategy for 2026–2030, which is intended to guide the group’s next phase of growth. The company operates across seven African markets, providing insurance, asset management, wealth management and other financial services. The strategy follows the conclusion of its 2021–2025 plan, which focused on strengthening the group’s financial and operational foundations.
For Britam, the chairperson’s role includes providing strategic oversight, supporting accountability at board level and working with management to safeguard shareholder and customer interests. Munda’s experience in risk and governance is particularly relevant to an insurance group operating across multiple markets, where regulatory requirements, investment performance and risk management influence business outcomes.
The appointment remains subject to the necessary regulatory approvals. Once cleared, Munda will lead the board as Britam pursues its growth objectives, seeks to strengthen its market position and works to create long-term value for shareholders and other stakeholders across its African operations.
