Kenyan-based Bamburi Cement, a major cement and concrete manufacturer, has appointed Ugandan executive Geoffrey Ndugwa as its new Chief Executive Officer, ushering in a leadership transition that underscores both continuity within the Holcim Group and a full-circle moment in Ndugwa’s career.
His appointment, effective April 1, 2026, sees him succeed Mohit Kapoor, who exits after leading the company through a critical phase of business stabilization and operational strengthening.
Ndugwa’s return to Bamburi is particularly notable. Earlier in his career, he served within the Bamburi Group in Kenya, including as Commercial Director and General Manager of Bamburi Special Products Limited, roles that positioned him at the heart of the company’s regional growth strategy.
His elevation to CEO now signals a strategic bet on deep institutional knowledge combined with global experience.
A seasoned Holcim Group executive with over two decades of experience, Ndugwa most recently served as Mergers and Acquisitions Projects Director for the Middle East and Africa region.
He has also held several top executive roles across the continent, including at Lafarge South Africa, Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe, and Lafarge Malawi, building a reputation for driving transformation, operational efficiency, and market expansion.
His earlier appointment as CEO of Lafarge Cement Zimbabwe in 2021, and prior leadership in Malawi, highlighted his ability to navigate diverse African markets while delivering growth and stakeholder value.
Across these roles, he has consistently focused on innovation, commercial strategy, and sustainable business performance.
Notably, Ndugwa began his career as a Sales Manager at Hima Cement Limited Uganda. He also served as Head of Business Support at the former Barclays Bank Uganda (now Absa), further broadening his commercial and strategic expertise across sectors.
Govt Abandons Plan to Tax all Cash WithdrawalsBamburi Cement Board Chairman Dr. John Simba described Ndugwa as a transformative leader with a strong track record in delivering sustainable profitability and reinforcing governance frameworks. He emphasized that Ndugwa’s regional expertise and familiarity with the Bamburi business would be key in sharpening the company’s competitive edge.
“The Board is delighted to welcome Mr. Ndugwa, a seasoned business leader who has delivered strong corporate results across the continent,” said Dr. Simba.
The board also paid tribute to outgoing CEO Mohit Kapoor, crediting him with stabilizing the business during a pivotal transition period and strengthening both operational performance and human capital development.
Ndugwa’s academic background blends engineering and business leadership. He holds an MBA from Edinburgh Business School at Heriot-Watt University, a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Civil Engineering from the University of East London, and a postgraduate diploma in marketing from the UK Chartered Institute of Marketing, where he is also a Chartered Marketer. He is a member of both the Uganda Institute of Professional Engineers and the Chartered Institute of Marketing UK, and has completed executive training at INSEAD through the Lafarge University programme.
His appointment comes at a time when Bamburi Cement is positioning itself for the next phase of growth amid evolving infrastructure demand, sustainability pressures, and increasing competition in East Africa’s construction materials sector.
For Ndugwa, the move represents not just another leadership role, but a return to familiar ground, now with the mandate to shape Bamburi’s future from the top.
