Outgoing EABL CFO Risper Ohaga Appointed APA Apollo Group CEO in Planned Transition The current East African Breweries Plc CFO will assume the Group CEO role at APA Apollo effective July 1, 2026, as veteran insurance executive Ashok Shah begins a structured transition.

APA Apollo Group has announced a planned leadership transition that will see Risper Ohaga join the regional financial services group as Group Chief Executive Officer effective July 1, 2026, following the completion of her tenure as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at East African Breweries Plc on June 30, 2026.

In a statement issued on February 25, 2026, the Nairobi headquartered group said the appointment forms part of a structured succession plan that will mark the transition of long serving Group CEO Ashok Shah after an exceptional 50 year career in the insurance industry.

The Board said it had carefully designed the succession process to ensure continuity, stability and sustained momentum across the Group’s operations, which span general insurance, life assurance, micro insurance and asset management across East Africa.

“As part of this planned transition, the Board has appointed Risper Ohaga to join the Group effective 1 July 2026, following the completion of her tenure as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at East African Breweries Plc on 30 June 2026,” the statement said.

Shah, who has led APA Apollo Group for several years, will commence a structured transition from his role as Group CEO. Reflecting on his tenure, he described leading APA Apollo as an extraordinary journey.

“Together with our teams, we have built a trusted, innovative and resilient group of companies. I am confident that the strong leadership in place will continue to build on this foundation and take the Group to even greater heights, creating lasting value for our customers, partners and communities,” Shah said.

Ohaga currently serves as Group Chief Finance Officer and Executive Director at East African Breweries Plc, one of the region’s largest listed companies. She brings extensive leadership experience across the financial services and corporate sectors in Africa.

Prior to joining EABL, she held senior leadership roles in finance and audit at Barclays, now Absa, in Nairobi, Johannesburg and Lusaka, as well as at KPMG East Africa.

She also currently serves as a Non Executive Director within APA Apollo Group and has chaired the Audit and Risk Committees of APA Insurance and APA Life Assurance, giving her deep familiarity with the Group’s strategy, governance framework and operations.

Her academic and professional credentials include a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Nairobi and qualification as a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya.

In her remarks, Ohaga said she was excited to take on the new role and build on the Group’s legacy.

“I am excited to take on this new role at APA Apollo Group, where each day presents an opportunity to make an impact on the lives of our people across East Africa. Ashok has built an extraordinary legacy of leadership and innovation, and I look forward to building on this strong foundation,” she said.

She added that she was particularly encouraged by the collaboration between APA Apollo and its key equity partners, Hollard International and Swiss Re, noting that the partnerships would support continued innovation and delivery of market leading solutions to customers.

Daniel Ndoye, Chairman of Apollo Investments Limited, the holding company of APA Apollo Group, credited Shah’s leadership with shaping the institution’s growth and reputation over five decades.

“Ashok’s leadership over five decades has left an indelible mark not only on APA Apollo Group, but on the insurance industry in Kenya and the wider region. His unwavering commitment to integrity, innovation and inclusive growth has built APA into the strong and trusted institution it is today,” Ndoye said.

The Chairman emphasized that the Board had managed the transition deliberately and responsibly, with a clear focus on safeguarding continuity while positioning the Group for its next phase of growth.

“Risper brings extensive executive experience, deep financial and strategic expertise, and a proven track record of leadership within leading regional companies.

The Board is confident that under this next chapter of leadership, with Ashok continuing in strategic roles, APA Apollo will continue its expansion and strengthen its performance and deliver sustainable long term growth,” Ndoye added.

The Group said it remains focused on executing its strategy, delivering operational excellence, prudent risk management and exceptional customer service, while driving long term value creation for stakeholders across the region.

The transition marks a significant leadership shift within East Africa’s financial services sector, bringing together one of the region’s most seasoned insurance executives and a top finance leader from the listed corporate space.

APA Apollo Group is one of the region’s diversified financial services groups with interests in APA Insurance in Kenya and Uganda, APA Life Assurance, APA Micro Insurance, Apollo Asset Management and Gordon Court, and also holds a strategic stake in Reliance Insurance Tanzania.