Mr. Matanda Wabuyele
Organisation: Export Promotion Council (EPC)Position: Chief Executive
Mr. Matanda Wabuyele is currently the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Export Promotion Council (EPC), a Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) based in Kenya. He was among a group of experts recruited from the private sector in 2003, by the government, under a new policy meant to improve efficiency and service delivery in key government departments. He is responsible for providing strategic leadership in managing and directing EPC to carry out its mandate, as a national focal point for the development and promotion of Kenya's exports, in the most effective way.
He is also responsible for the development and implementation of the two Strategic Plans (2003-2007 and 2008-2012) that have given EPC a new strategic orientation of its activities with a special focus on mainstreaming Small and Medium (SMEs) into the export process including women, youth and marginalised groups.
Mr. Wabuyele, since joining EPC, has been instrumental in restructuring and turning around the Council to offer excellent services to the exporting community especially Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) inspite of budgetary constraints. He has enhanced relationship with other Trade Support Institutions (TSIs) locally, regionally and internationally a well as with Development Partners in the provision of trade related services. He has also successfully sought donor assistance in the provision of both technical assistance and direct funding for export market development programmes in order to bridge the shortfall in budgetary allocation.
Prior to joining EPC, Mr. Wabuyele was a Managing Consultant in the Business Consulting Services of IBM Global Services (formerly PriceWaterhouseCoopers Consulting), Nairobi. Mr. Wabuyele has a Master of Science in Strategic Management and has over 26 years of professional management and consulting experience of which 19 years were gained in a consulting environment and over 7 years in a TPO. As an international management consultant, he successfully managed and delivered a wide range of management and consulting services in both public and private sectors in Africa, the Middle East, UK and USA. He provided consultancy services ranging from strategic management, corporate restructuring, financial management, human resources management, information technology management for both privately and internationally funded (e.g. by World Bank, UNDP, DFID, USAID, GTZ, etc) engagements locally and internationally.
He has considerable experience in developing and implementing organisation business strategies and policies that offer competitive advantage and create and sustain value for clients in both public and private sectors.
Mr. Wabuyele has strong planning, managerial and leadership abilities and also has excellent communication and negotiating skills. He is pragmatic, innovative and a strategic thinker with good analytical skills and commercial judgment. He is energetic, self driven person of high integrity. He has international exposure and is widely travelled in Europe, USA, Asia, Africa and the Middle East
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
EXPORT PROMOTION COUNCIL (EPC), Nairobi, Kenya
Chief Executive Officer 2003 to present
Provided visionary leadership in managing and directing the council to carry out its mandate in the most efficient way, and in the implementation of the organizations activities in line with the Strategic Plan objectives as follows:
•Prepared and recommended to the Board both the long-term strategic plans and annual business plans including budgets to meet organizational strategic objectives.
•Oversaw the development and implementation of the two strategic plans(2003-2007 and 20008-2012), annual plans and preparation of organizational performance reports and submission to the Board of Directors to facilitate decision-making and guidance and also ensure compliance with statutory requirements.
•Fostered and natured relations with the government, stakeholders, collaborating institutions, donor community and other trade support networks for the promotion of good corporate image and support of the Councils’ programmes.
•Supervised the functions of operational units and ensured implementation of various activities as per the agreed strategic and work plans and other guidelines as issued.
•Ensured optimal utilization of the Council’s resources and ensure accountability.
•Developed and implemented a donor fund raising strategy to bridge the shortfall in the government budgetary allocation that resulted in the provision of both technical assistance and funding for export market development programs. These programs included: A 3 year Training of Trainers (TOT) funded by CBI, Capacity building for SMEs, a 3 year program funded by JICA, Trade Development Programs, a 3 year program funded by USAID, Product and Market Development for commercial craft sector, a 3 year funded by DANIDA and COMSEC, Professional Services Strategy Development Program funded by COMSEC, An Ethical Fashion project funded by ITC.
•Cultivated and facilitated public and private partnership (PPP) for supporting export efforts through sectoral panels and other means to develop mechanisms for private sector intervention to support export efforts of disadvantaged segment of society including MSMES
•Championed and lobbied with the government and key stakeholders for the establishment of both the Export Development Fund and the Endowment funds to sustain the development and promotion of exports, by Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that was adopted for implementation in the Medium Term Strategy for Transformation (2008-2012) of the Vision 2030.
•Spearheaded the introduction of a partnership approach through “Smart Networks” with local, regional and international partners in order to create synergy and provide seamless and integrated services to the exporting community.
•Championed the establishment of a Regional Trade Promotion Organisation for the COMESA region
•Participated in national, regional and international trade policy and negotiation foras in EAC, COMESA, AU, etc
•Oversaw the facilitation of export development and promotional activities and strengthened consultative mechanism with stakeholders for the benefit of existing and potential exporters.
•Enhanced export supply base and competitiveness of SMEs through enterprise development and capacity building
•Conducted, research on export potential in goods and services, policy analysis and advocacy; and strengthen collaboration with trade facilitation institution for export facilitation and enhanced competitiveness.
•Cultivated the corporate values and introduction of best practice, change management initiatives and performance best programmes that enhanced service delivery.
•Ensured the building, coaching, mentoring and retention of a strong management team and motivated workforce.
IBM GLOBAL SERVICES-BUSINESS CONSULTING SERVICES
(FORMERLY PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS /
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS/ PRICE WATERHOUSE, Nairobi, Kenya
Managing Consultant/Principal Consultant/Senior Consultant/Consultant 1984 – 2003
A Managing Consultant Consulting Services responsible for providing leadership and managing teams in the delivery of a wide range of consultancy assignments in the Eastern and Southern Region..
•Successfully directed and managed and delivered a wide range of management consulting services in both public and private sectors in Eastern, Western and Southern Africa, Ethiopia and the Middle East, UK, USA.
•Provided consultancy services ranging from strategic management, financial management, human resources management, information technology (IT) planning and management on both privately and internationally funded (e.g. by World Bank, UNDP, DFID, USAID, GTZ, etc) engagements locally and internationally.
•Developed and implemented organisation business strategies, IT strategies and policies that offered competitive advantage and created and sustained value for clients in both public and private sectors including public utilities (telecommunications and electricity), financial services (banking), consumer and industrial products (manufacturing, news media, pharmaceuticals), service industries (hotels, shipping, transportation, government).
Business Machines Limited - Systems Development/Maintenance (1982 - 1984)
•Responsible for managing a team of systems analysts and programmers
•Designed and implemented Accounting, Payroll and Insurance systems for logistic companies. Automobile and insurance companies.
Government of Kenya - Systems Development and Maintenance (1981 - 1982)
•Undertook systems development and maintenance of various systems (i.e. crime statistics, foreign currency management)
EDUCATION
•Certificate in Corporate Governance, 2006
•Master of Science in Strategic Management (MSC), Arthur D Little Management Education Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 1990
•Strategic Management of Information Systems, Arthur D Little Management Education Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 1990
•Post Graduate Program Studies in Economics, the Economic Institute, Colorado, Boulder, USA, 1989
•Bachelor of Science (Hons.) Mathematics (Statistics)/Computer Science, University of Nairobi, Kenya 1981
TRAINING PROGRAMS
Attended various training programs in: trade development and promotion, leadership, business management, change management, financial, management, human resources management, project management, e-business and IT management, etc both locally and overseas.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
•Chief Executive Officer, Export Promotion Council - June, 2003 - To Date
•IBM Global Services-Business Consulting Services, Nairobi, Kenya (formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers) - Managing Consultant, 2003
•PricewaterhouseCoopers, Nairobi, Kenya - Supervising Consultant, Principal Consultant, 2001-2002
•PricewaterhouseCoopers, Nairobi, Kenya (after merger of Pricewaterhouse and Coopers & Lybrand) - Supervising Consultant, 1998-2001
•PriceWaterhouse, Nairobi, Kenya - Senior Consultant, 1994 - 1998
•PriceWaterhouse, Nairobi, Kenya, Study Leave/Attachment, 1989 - 1991
•PriceWaterhouse, Nairobi, Kenya, Consultant, 1986 - 1988
•PriceWaterhouse, Nairobi, Kenya, Assistant Consultant, 1984-1985
•Business Machines (Kenya) Ltd., Nairobi, Kenya - Systems Analyst, 1982 - 1984
•The Government of Kenya Computer Centre, Nairobi, Systems Analyst/Programmer, 1981-1982
MEMBERSHIP OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES
•Commissioner General of Section Kenya for various Expositions: Aichi Expo 2005 – Japan, Zaragoza Expo 2008- Spain, and Shangai Expo 2010 – China.
•Secretary of Export Promotion Council Board
•Board Member of Kenya Investment Authority
•Board Member of Export Processing Zone Authority
LANGUAGES
Swahili Excellent
English Excellent
French Poor
ICT SKILLS
•Well versed with MS Office (i.e. Word, Excel, Power point), MS Project, MS Access, Email and Web based applications (e.g. Web Portals)
•Also familiar with programming and other application software including: COBOL, Basic, Dbase, Lotus, Supercalc, WordPerfect, SPSS, Visio Basic, ERP software. (i.e. Oracle, Navision).
MEMBERSHIPOF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
•Member of the Directors of Institute of Corporate Governance
•Member of Kenya Institute of Management (AMKIM)
•Founder Member, Kenya Computer Institute (MKCI).
PUBLICATIONS AND PUBLIC SPEAKING
•Article on “Kenya Business Support Organisation (BSO) Success Story on Building Smart Networks”, published in the CBI News Journal 2008.
•Speaker at the Topix Network Conference for BSO in developing countries on above success story held in Rotterdam in October 2008.
•Presenter at the 7th World Conference of Trade Promotion Organisations (WTPO) Forum as the best Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Award winner, from a developing country, for the World TPO Award 2008, The Hague, 2008.
•Presenter at the ITC Joint Advisory Council Meeting as best Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) Award winner, from a developing country, for the World TPO Award 2008, Geneva, 2008.
•Various interviews held on trade development and promotion issues in Kenya with leading media houses including: Reuters, CNBC Africa, Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, Daily Nation and Financial Post.
•Article on Networking covering Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs), East African Computers News, a leading monthly computer journal in East Africa, 1991.
AWARDS
•During my tenure as CEO of EPC, the Government of Kenya introduced the Performance Based System for Government Agencies in 2005 and since then EPC has attained a certificate of Excellence in Performance in the “Very Good Category” each year (FY 2005/6, 2006/7 and 2007/8)
•I successfully directed and managed the attainment of the ISO (9001:2000) Quality Management System (QMS) certification status foe Export Promotion Council.
•Under my stewardship, EPC was able to win the World Trade Promotion (WTPO) Award for the best Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO) from a developing country during the 7th World Conference of Trade Promotion Organisations (WTPO) organised by International Trade Centre (ITC), a UN Agency.
• I was honoured, on December 12th, 2008, by HE the President of Kenya with the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) Award for outstanding/distinguished services rendered to the nation in various capacities and responsibilities.
EXTRA CURRICULA ACTIVITIES
•In the process of establishing a “Better Life Foundation” to assist the rural community in improving their living conditions.
•Founding Director of Bungoma Professionals, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) - Not For Profit
•Director, of Nairobi Club
•Member of Karengata Association
•Member of various golf clubs (e.g. Karen, Muthaiga, and Vet. Lab, Kitale)
•Active participant in community related development projects (e.g. churches, schools, health centres)
•Established a re-forestation community project for environmental conservation.
•Hobbies include: Golf, travelling, reading, gardening and farming.
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