NAIROBI, Kenya, April 12 – E-commerce platform Jumia has appointed Charles Ballard as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Kenyan unit.
Ballard replaces Juan Seco who is leaving the firm after eight years. Seco is heading to the pan-African fintech space.
“I am excited to continue driving the e-commerce narrative in rural Kenya where more than 70% of the population lives,” Ballard said.
“Access to Modern Retail is a challenge in these areas, which is a great opportunity to grow our online marketplace. E-commerce can bring better prices, more choices, and convenience to the rural Kenyans,” he added.
The new CEO first joined Jumia in 2019 as the Head of Performance and Planning.
In 2021, he was promoted to the post of Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the expansion and deployment of the e-commerce activities in the country.
Subsequently, in 2022, he was named Senior Vice President, Commercials.
Ballard boasts an illustrious career spanning the NGO and retail eco-systems.
Prior, Ballard worked as a retail consultant at Sagaci Research in Kenya from 2015 to 2019, and as the Deputy CFO at ACTED (international humanitarian NGO) from 2012 to 2015.
