Andreas von Paleske appointed as Naivas Supermarket CEO
Naivas Supermarket confirms leadership transition as Andreas von Paleske steps in to replace David Kimani Mukuha.
KENYA – Naivas Supermarket has announced the appointment of Andreas von Paleske as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO), marking a major leadership shift at Kenya’s largest retail chain.
The appointment, confirmed on October 7, sees von Paleske take over from outgoing CEO David Kimani Mukuha, who has led the retailer through a period of significant expansion.
Professional Background
Von Paleske, who has been serving as Chief Strategy Officer since April 2017, brings over two decades of experience in retail and investment management across Africa, Europe, and other emerging markets.
During his tenure at Naivas, he has been instrumental in building institutional structures, improving governance, and driving growth initiatives that strengthened the company’s position in Kenya’s retail sector.
He played a key role in Naivas’ first external investment deals, which brought in funding from Amethis Private Equity and later from Mauritius-based IBL Group, transactions that were valued in the tens of millions of US dollars (US$).
These deals opened the door for the supermarket’s continued growth and enhanced its competitiveness in the East African retail landscape.
Since August 2022, von Paleske has also been serving as a Board Member of Naivas International, the holding company responsible for the supermarket’s regional expansion strategy and corporate oversight.
Career Journey
Before joining Naivas, von Paleske co-founded Africa Platform Capital LLP, a private equity firm that focused on consumer and healthcare investments across Sub-Saharan Africa.
Prior to that, he was Global Head of Consumer at Actis, where he managed investment operations in Africa, China, India, and Latin America between 2013 and 2016.
His earlier experience includes eight years at Lion Capital, where he held director positions and served on the boards of several leading brands such as Wagamama, Findus Group, Kettle Foods UK, and Ad van Geloven.
Von Paleske began his career at UBS Investment Bank in 2000 as an Associate, a role that set the foundation for his transition into the private equity sector.
He also volunteered as an advisor in 2013 for Self-Unlimited, now known as HFT, through the Cranfield Trust, where he helped the organization develop a business model for its apple juice venture.
Academic Background
Von Paleske holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School, earned between 2003 and 2005.
He also graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in 2000.
Naivas has yet to announce whether additional leadership changes will accompany von Paleske’s new appointment.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.
