Ex Jumia boss, Charles Ballard takes helm at Twiga Foods 

KENYA— Agritech startup, Twiga Foods has named Charles Ballard its CEO following the resignation of Peter Njonjo early this year. 

In his new role Ballard will oversee all aspects of Twiga’s business with support from a range of senior leaders as the firm seeks to redefine its goal of turning around food supply chains in Africa. 

Prior to this role, Mr. Ballard served as CEO of Kenya’s wing of African e-commerce giant Jumia since April 2023. 

He joined Jumia Kenya in early 2019 as the company’s Head of Offline sales before his appointment as COO less than a year later. He was then appointed Senior vice president of the company’s commercial wing before his eventual appointment as CEO. 

Chairman of Twiga Food’s Board of Directors, Hein Pretorius, said, “We are delighted to welcome Charles as our new Chief Executive. 

“His deep understanding of the Kenyan e-commerce and retail landscape, proven operational grip, entrepreneurial drive, and passion for the Twiga Foods opportunity make him the ideal leader to steer Twiga into its next phase of growth and success.” 

The Chairman also expressed optimism about Ballard’s capability to steer the company’s growth and deliver on its mission to transform food supply chains in Kenya and beyond.  

Ballard has more than 15 years of experience in the e-commerce, retail, and financial sectors, 9 of which were exclusive to the Kenyan market. 

On his appointment, Ballard expressed his delight stating, “I am honored to lead such a talented team at Twiga Foods during this pivotal time. With our unique value proposition, we are ideally positioned to seize key market opportunities.“ 

Ballard’s optimism regarding his new position comes against the backdrop of a turbulent year for Twig Foods, which was reported as the reason behind Mr. Njonjo’s exit. 

Last December, the company raised US$35 million in convertible bonds—debt that pays interest but can also be converted into equity—from Creadev and Juven, two private equity investors who had previously invested in Twiga. 

“The funding secured by Twiga Foods not only underscores the confidence investors have in the company’s potential but also positions it strategically for growth and innovation,” said Njonjo at the time. 

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