Kenya Shell rebrands, appoints new boss

Oil marketing firm Kenya Shell has appointed a new managing director and rebranded following completion of a sale agreement with two foreign entities.

Kenya Shell, which changed its corporate identity to Vivo Energy Kenya, appointed former Tiger Brands East Africa boss Polycarp Igathe to head the Kenyan unit on February 4, 2013.

“I am very pleased to join Vivo Energy,” said Mr Igathe.

Vivo Energy, a Shell licensee, in now thirteen African markets, was established on December 1, 2011 to distribute and market Shell-branded fuels and lubricants.

It followed a deal first announced on February 19, 2011 when Swiss company Vitol Oil -a giant oil trader, and London-based private equity firm Helios Investment Fund acquired an 80 per cent stake of Shell’s shareholding in most of its downstream businesses in Africa.

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Vitol and Helios each own 40 per cent of Vivo Energy, with Shell holding the remaining 20 per cent.

Shell and Vivo Lubricants is 50 per cent owned by Shell and 50 per cent owned by Vitol and Helios. Shell and Vivo Lubricants manufacture and blend Shell branded lubricants. It will market and sell the lubricants through exclusive Master Distribution Agreements with Vivo Energy companies.

All Vivo Energy’s fuels and lubricants will still bear the Shell brand name.

Vivo Energy operates in 12 other African markets including Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Mauritius, Madagascar, Morocco, Mali, Namibia, Senegal and Tunisia.

Christian Chammas, CEO of Vivo Energy pledged quality Shell-branded products and focus on the customer experience.

“We want Vivo Energy to be known as the most respected energy business in Africa. This means investing in key African markets for long-term sustainable growth and being a leader in safety. For our employees, this means building a culture of performance under African leadership and accountable for local business growth.”