Kenneth Oyolla
Senior Commercial Executive
Karen
Summary
Strategic Commercial Executive with 20+ years of leadership experience in advertising sales, digital marketing, technology, and media. Proven ability to lead high-performing teams, engage C-level clients, government leaders and drive transformational commercial growth across Sub-Saharan Africa. Expert in developing innovative go-to-market strategies, structuring complex commercial deals, and fostering strategic partnerships across the private sector, government, and international development. Proven ability in scaling digital platforms and e-commerce ventures, and leading operations for global brands like Microsoft, Nokia, and Unilever. Recognized for cross-functional leadership, entrepreneurial drive, and a strong network within Kenya’s business, government, and tech ecosystems.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
1
1
Language
Work History
Chief Commercial Officer
Nation Media Group
05.2023 - 12.2024
- Spearheaded company-wide commercial transformation across print, digital, circulation, and marketing teams, realigning Nation Media Group’s revenue model for the digital-first era leading to a 15% growth in digital revenue
- Led integrated go-to-market strategy that revitalized legacy revenue streams while accelerating digital monetization, contributing to double-digit growth in digital revenue channels.
- Oversaw large-scale organizational change, restructuring teams and processes to support agile product delivery, audience-first engagement, and high-performance culture.
- Championed customer-centric innovation by embedding audience insights into product, marketing, and content strategy—reducing churn and expanding cross-platform reach.
- Built and executed multi-channel sales programs, leveraging owned platforms and third-party ecosystems to drive advertiser value and user acquisition.
- Developed and launched cross-functional performance scorecards and strategic KPIs to manage execution of high-priority revenue, marketing, and innovation initiatives.
- Served as a key thought leader and market-facing representative, influencing policy, partnerships, and platform innovation across Kenya’s fast-evolving media and tech sectors.
Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer
Jumia Technologies
01.2020 - 03.2023
- Lead regional commercial strategy and P&L for marketplace operations.
- Owned CXO-level partnerships with global brands, including Unilever, L’Oréal, P&G, Samsung, and Carrefour.
- Scaled digital retail performance through pricing, assortment strategy, and large-scale campaigns (e.g., Black Friday).
- Directly manage eight senior reports and a total team of sixty-four.
- Boosted sales revenue by implementing strategic promotion initiatives, and cultivating strong client relationships.
- Developed new revenue streams by identifying growth opportunities and forging strategic partnerships with key industry players.
- Negotiated high-value contracts with top retail partners (Naivas Supermarkets & Chandatana Supermarkets) that maximized profitability while mitigating risks for the organization.
Group Head of Commercial
Industrial Promotion Services (Aga Khan Fund for Economic Devt)
06.2018 - 12.2019
- Led commercialization across a portfolio of 24 companies across East Africa.
- Delivered regional expansion into 8 African markets, increasing revenue by $40M.
- Developed and negotiated cross-border distribution strategies for pharma and agro-industrial businesses.
General Manager - Commercial
MultiChoice Africa
01.2017 - 06.2018
- Oversaw sales, marketing, and customer operations across East Africa.
- Achieved 200% growth in Ethiopia subscriber base and improved EBITDA by 4%.
- Revamped regional distribution strategies across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
Founder & CEO
Blueflame Technologies Ltd
05.2015 - 05.2017
- Established a successful business by identifying market needs and developing innovative solutions.
- Built Dukawalla.com (online grocery delivery) and MaidsOfHonor (household services tech platform) that services 500 households, creating dignified work for high potential disadvantaged women and solving the search and find process for professionals
- Managed a tech team across Kenya and Europe, with 500+ service providers deployed in Nairobi.
- Implemented go-to-market technology projects for key customers like Kimberly-Clark, Diageo, Unilever, and Mondelez that enabled them to gather, interpret, and implement market data to grow share in targeted categories across East Africa.
Director, Global Head of Marketing Activation
Microsoft Corporation
04.2014 - 02.2015
- Led the development of the go-to-market strategy for key products across 12 emerging markets.
- Directed 70 staff across key, high-growth geographies, including India, Brazil, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific, and Nigeria.
- Delivered successful product launches, including the Nokia Asha and the Nokia X.
- Built a robust process for input and feedback from key markets into the product development and product lifecycle management process, which resulted in better uptake of global campaigns in key global markets.
General Manager, East & Southern Africa
Nokia Corporation
08.2007 - 12.2011
- Led full P&L responsibility for Nokia’s East and Southern Africa business, managing a cross-functional team of over 150 across Sales, Marketing, Retail, Finance, Logistics, and Communications.
- Achieved six consecutive quarters of revenue and net profit growth, while strengthening Nokia’s market leadership and brand presence across seven African countries.
- Led CXO engagements with key Telco operators across East and Southern Africa markets, like Safaricom, MTN, Airtel, and Vodacom, resulting in growth of penetration of mobile network handsets and brand preference for Nokia.
- Successfully lobbied the Government of Kenya to remove import duties on mobile handsets, driving 25% business growth and accelerating smartphone penetration; built and mentored top-tier African talent across key regional hubs.
Various Senior Roles in Sales & Marketing
Unilever PLC
01.2001 - 09.2007
- Spearheaded category management and modern trade strategies.
- Delivered consistent year-on-year growth across retail and distribution channels.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Food Science
University of Nairobi
Nairobi 04.2001 -
Skills
- C-Level Stakeholder Engagement
- Digital Marketing & AdTech Strategy
- P&L Ownership & Commercial Leadership
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- High-Growth Market Expansion
- Commercial Deal Structuring & Negotiation
- Strategic Partnerships in Media, Tech, and Government
- Data-Driven Marketing Activation
Interests
Intrepid traveler
Technology advocate
Good governance supporter
Key Skills And Capabilities
- C-Level Stakeholder Engagement
- Digital Marketing & AdTech Strategy
- P&L Ownership & Commercial Leadership
- Cross-Functional Leadership
- High-Growth Market Expansion
- Commercial Deal Structuring & Negotiation
- Strategic Partnerships in Media, Tech, and Government
- Data-Driven Marketing Activation
Citizenship
Kenya
Personal Information
Nationality: Kenya
Accomplishments
- Led the collaboration between mobile telecommunication industry stakeholders and Government of Kenya that led to the removal of VAT on mobile devices and 25% YoY growth in sales
Timeline
Chief Commercial Officer
Nation Media Group
05.2023 - 12.2024
Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer
Jumia Technologies
01.2020 - 03.2023
Group Head of Commercial
Industrial Promotion Services (Aga Khan Fund for Economic Devt)
06.2018 - 12.2019
General Manager - Commercial
MultiChoice Africa
01.2017 - 06.2018
Founder & CEO
Blueflame Technologies Ltd
05.2015 - 05.2017
Director, Global Head of Marketing Activation
Microsoft Corporation
04.2014 - 02.2015
General Manager, East & Southern Africa
Nokia Corporation
08.2007 - 12.2011
Bachelor of Science - Food Science
University of Nairobi
04.2001 -
Various Senior Roles in Sales & Marketing
Unilever PLC
01.2001 - 09.2007
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