Adan hands Portland CEO new term after 7-month wait

Industrialisation secretary Adan Mohamed has offered the managing director of East Africa Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) a new three-year term.

Mr Mohamed in the latest Kenya Gazette notice says that Kephar Tande will serve a new term starting November 2013.

Senior officials at the ministry have been pushing for a review of the board’s August 8 decision that offered Mr Tande a new three-year term and had asked the CEO to step down.

His appointment signals the thawing of frosty relationship on the board that triggered the replacement of Mark ole Karbolo with Bill Lay, the former chief executive of CMC Motors, as chairman.

“The Cabinet Secretary for Industrialization and Enterprise Development re-appoints Kephar Tande...for a period of three years with effect from the 16th November, 2013,” reads a notice in the latest Kenya Gazette issue.

Mr Karbolo had advised Mr Mohamed on September 16 last year to renew Mr Tande’s term.

The MD’s initial three-year term expired in October.

But top officials in the ministry opposed the move, adding that Mr Mohamed had been kept in the dark.

The replacement of Mr Karbolo has tilted control of the board in favour of the state, which has a 52 per cent stake.

Lafarge, which owns 41.7 per cent of the firm, had dominated the board.