Christine Kagendo 
Risper Ohaga,newly appointed APA Apollo Group CEO,effective 1st July 2026
APA Apollo Group Announces Planned Leadership Transition
The APA Apollo Group, a leading financial services group in East Africa, announced a planned leadership transition at Apollo Investments Limited (AIL).
As part of this planned transition, the Board has appointed Risper Ohaga to join the Group effective 1 July 2026, following the completion of her tenure as Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director at East African Breweries Plc on 30 June 2026.
Reflecting on his tenure, Ashok Shah, outgoing Group CEO, said, “Leading APA Apollo Group over the past fifty years has been an extraordinary journey.
Together with our teams, we have built a trusted, innovative, and resilient group of companies.
I am confident that the strong leadership in place will continue to build on this foundation and take the Group to even greater heights, creating lasting value for our customers, partners, and communities.
Commenting on her appointment, Risper Ohaga, incoming Group CEO, said, “I am excited to take on this new role at APA Apollo Group, where each day presents an opportunity to make an impact on the lives of our people across East Africa.
Ashok has built an extraordinary legacy of leadership and innovation, and I look forward to building on this strong foundation.
I am particularly excited about the opportunities presented by the collaboration between APA Apollo and its key equity partners, Hollard International and Swiss Re, which will see us continue to drive innovation, offering market-leading solutions to our customers and enriching the experiences of our teams.
I am committed to working with our teams to continue to drive growth, enhance customer value, and to ensure APA continues to lead with excellence across East Africa.”
Risper brings extensive leadership expertise and a wealth of experience across the financial services
and corporate sectors in Africa.
She is currently the Group Chief Finance Officer and Executive Director at East Africa Breweries PLC. She previously held senior leadership roles in finance and audit at Barclays/Absa in Nairobi, Johannesburg and Lusaka and at KPMG East Africa.
She currently serves as a Non-Executive Director within the APA Apollo Group and has chaired the Audit & Risk Committees of APA Insurance and APA Life Assurance, giving her a good understanding of the Group’s strategy,
operations, people and governance.
Risper holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Nairobi(UoN) and is a qualified accountant (CPAK).
Daniel Ndonye, Chairman, AIL, said, “Ashok’s leadership over five decades has left an indelible mark not only on APA Apollo Group, but on the insurance industry in Kenya and the wider region.
His unwavering commitment to integrity, innovation and inclusive growth has built APA into the strong and trusted institution it is today.
The Board has managed this transition deliberately and responsibly, with a clear focus on safeguarding continuity while positioning the Group for the future.
Risper brings extensive executive experience, deep financial and strategic expertise, and a proven track record of leadership within leading regional companies.
The Board is confident that under this next chapter of leadership, with Ashok continuing in strategic roles APA Apollo will continue its expansion and strengthen its performance and deliver sustainable long-term growth.”
The Group will remain focused on executing its strategy, delivering its priorities, and upholding its commitments.
APA Apollo Group will continue to execute its existing growth plans across general insurance, life assurance, micro insurance, and asset management, while continuing to prioritise operational excellence, prudent risk management, exceptional customer service, and long-term value creation for all stakeholders
