Felisters Mutugu has taken over as the CEO of meat products firm Farmer’s Choice—the first ever female top executive of the company — in changes that have thrust her into the spotlight.
Ms Mutugu is the second CEO of Farmer’s Choice and has been tasked with filling the shoes that have for the past 40 years been worn by one man, James Taylor.
A holder of a Master’s degree in Strategic Management, Ms Mutugu says she is not fazed by the daunting task ahead but is rather taking it a day at a time and counting on the past 10 years she has spent at Farmer’s Choice and also the supportive team of over 2,000 staff.
“Being the first female CEO does not come with added pressure because our focus has always been on performance, supported by a strong heritage and culture of excellence,” Ms Mutugu told this publication on Saturday.
“Having been in leadership for a long time, the main difference now is occupying the corner office. My goal as CEO is to ensure the business provides the best possible experience for our team while making a meaningful impact on the country and the continent.”
Besides steering Farmer’s Choice in its quest to further expand across the continent, Ms Mutugu is also tasked with automating processes at the firm and growing its production capacity.
Founded 40 years ago, Farmer’s Choice is the leading firm in meat products in the country widely known for its iconic beef and pork sausages. The company also deals in poultry, lamb, fish, cheese, vegetables and pet food.
Before her appointment to the corner office of the Kahawa West-based firm, Ms Mutugu was Mr Taylor’s deputy, and she was in charge of the commercial department for two years and six months.
Between April 2020 and May 2022, she was the Director of Sales and Marketing at the firm. She says that the positions slowly shaped her, helping her to get ready for the position she is holding now.
She adds that directly working under Mr Taylor taught her valuable lessons which she is keen to employ as Farmer’s Choice plots to expand beyond Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Zanzibar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain.
“I had the privilege of working directly under Mr Taylor, whose leadership was both disciplined and visionary. His focus and commitment to excellence have left a profound legacy. Under his guidance, we solidified our market leadership and set the foundation for continued success,” she adds.
The soft-spoken CEO is also a graduate of the Senior Executive Programme for Africa at Harvard Business School in Boston, US.
The company’s vast customer base is all too keen to see how Mr Taylor’s successor navigates the position. Ms Mutugu will have to find her footing right under the imposing shadow of Mr Taylor who will now be operating behind the scenes.
Ms Mutugu is yet to hit 40 years while her predecessor was the CEO for more than four decades, an interesting contrast that she however downplays, instead focusing on her strengths and the lessons learned as Mr Taylor’s understudy.
Farmer’s Choice said that Mr Taylor has been retained in a different role to offer ‘strategic counsel’ to the Board of Directors and lead special projects vital to the company’s growth.
Ms Mutugu’s appointment as a CEO also makes her one of the youngest female holders of the position in the fast-changing face of corporate Kenya.
Among her notable accolades in the industry is being recognised as one of Kenya’s most influential women in the Top 40 Under 40 list, which is done by this publication every year.
During her interview with this publication, her emphasis on good working conditions for employees was all too clear.
“Equally critical is ensuring that our employees remain at the heart of this journey. People, not buildings or infrastructure, build businesses. I will nurture a culture where our team feels empowered, valued, and driven to contribute to the company’s growth,” she said.
The mother of two young boys describes herself as a workaholic, team player and a manager who is more hands-on and all too keen to leave a mark on the company.
On her LinkedIn profile, Ms Mutugu says she is a transformational leader, a description that more than ever is set to come under scrutiny every day in her new role as the CEO of Farmer’s Choice.
She adds that in the next 10 years, Farmer’s Choice will be the most respected food brand in the region, maintaining its high-quality products while setting the standard for innovation and sustainability.
