Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards Programme
Emerging Category Finalists Ernst & Young is pleased to recognise the achievements of this year's Emerging category finalists:
Mr.Dhirendra Shah
BIODEAL LABORATORIES LIMITED
Dr. Shah graduated in 1972 from university of Bombay with a first class degree in pharmacy. He returned to Kenya in 1973 and after registration and a few brief stints at various manufacturing units, became a consultant company pharmacist for Bayer East Africa from which position he retired in 2009.In 1976, and with very little money, he set up Ray pharmaceuticals and soon thereafter became one of the largest and most respected wholesaler and distributor of medicines, surgical and other healthcare items to the government, NGOs, faith based and private hospitals, doctors and pharmacies. Ray pharmaceutical is still in existence to this day and is still marketing and distributing company albeit for a small range of specialist products.
Mr. Shah is the immediate past Chairman of the Federation of Kenya Pharmaceutical manufacturers and during who during his tenure pushed through various improvements and agendas that have benefited the whole local industry e.g. zero rating for all raw materials, lobbying for tighter controls on imported medicines especially where the industry manufactures them already and drafting a road map for the industry in collaboration with UNIDO and GTZ.
Emmanuel Katongole
QUALITY CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES LIMITED-UGANDA
Emmanuel Katongole is a 49 year old Ugandan who has served as founder Managing Director and shareholder of Quality Chemicals Industries Limited (QCIL), a company valued at over USD 20 Million. He is also founder CEO and shareholder of QCIL, incorporated in Uganda, as a joint venture between Cipla Limited, the number one pharmaceutical company in India and Quality Chemicals Limited (QCIL) Uganda.
Emmanuel is a member of the initiatives for Global development (IGD)-Frontier 100.This is a group that joins the most successful business leaders operating in frontier markets with business leaders from United States and Europe. The group’s governing Council is co-chaired by Madeleine K. Albright and General Colin L. Powell both former secretaries of state, U.S department of State.
Emmanuel is a Rotarian and is District Governor Nominee for Rotary District 9200 which comprises of Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Uganda and is a major donor to the Rotary Foundation. Emmanuel holds a Masters of Arts Degree in economic Policy and Planning (MA_EPP) and a bachelor of statistics degree (B.Sta.Hons) both of Makerere University Kampala, Uganda. He has a number of Post graduate training courses both in Uganda and in Europe.
Eng.Peter Njagi Njeru
RIVA PETROLEUM
Born in 1959, Eng.Peter Njagi Njeru is the founder CEO and has developed RIVA Petroleum Dealers Limited from small reseller to an oil company. RIVA petroleum Dealers limited which is now one of East Africa’s successfully developed local oil companies.
In addition, Peter has been a Managing director of FREDS Limited, an investment company dealing in various stock portfolios and vehicle import business ;a director and board member FOCUS Holdings Limited, a limited company formed to make profits for donating to charitable activities ;Managing director of hand in hand East Africa Limited, a company involved in investment of large scale production of Bio-fuels through investment in non-food based oil crops; the secretary and director PIAK (Petroleum Industry association of Kenya): involved in helping coordinate oil industry players including working closely with ministry of Energy, Oil industry supply coordinator, Kenya pipeline, Kenya petroleum refineries.
Eng.Peter holds a BSC Civil Eng Honors degree from Nairobi University, and a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Egerton University. He is a registered Engineer with Engineers registration board of Kenya and is a member of institution of Engineers of Kenya (MIEK).
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Kamal Budhabhatti
CRAFT SILICONMr Kamal Budhabhatti, now a Kenyan, who was born in the small west coast town of entrepreneurs known as Jamnagar in the same state as the late noble Mahatma Gandhi, has increasingly gained fame in Kenya as a man who, through sheer determination spiced with lots of innovation and goodwill, has virtually moved from rags to managing millions in a span of only10 years since 2000 when he developed his first banking software.
A Bachelor of Science (Physics) graduate Kamal had nothing to do with IT or finance but took advantage of the widespread computer programming lessons given throughout Indian institutions, where he went to school. Mr Kamal got his first employment opportunity in Kenya. Kamal is the founder and Chief executive officer of Craft Silicon, a Kenya based global software development and services company who are developers of software in the financial sector, mainly commercial banks, micro-finance institutions, Sacco's, software for mobile and internet banking. Kamal is actively involved in researching & crafting necessities of the organization to position Craft silicon among the best financial technology companies around the world
Kamal’s hobby outside the work includes adventure sports and air piloting. He is ravenous reader and enjoys his reading on autobiographies, philosophy, technical, and management and success stories. He is a strong believer in people power, he often says, “Associates are the assets of craft silicon, with their commitment, even impossible is possible. Kamal founded the craft silicon with the social intention to educate the aspiring youngsters of Kenya in the area of information technology.
Paul M. Kinuthia
INTERCONSUMER PRODUCTS LIMITED
In 1995, as Microsoft was launching Windows’95, Mr. Paul Kinuthia, the CEO and founder of Interconsumer Products Ltd was launching a small business outfit, whose vision was to become Africa’s largest Personal Care Company; big dream, with a start-up capital of three thousand Kenya shillings.
Mr Paul Kinuthia is the sole proprietor of Interconsumer Products Limited, a company which commands a substantial market share both in the local and the COMESA markets. Its share of the mass market is unrivalled both in Kenya and regionally where Nice & Lovely brand comes second to none and is the most popular product in hair and skin care.
Rajeev Chatrath
DAWA LIMITED
Rajeev Chatrath has been the operational director of Dawa Limited since January 2011. Previously, he was the operations director at PZ cussons East Africa Limited; Financial Controller at Kenafric Industries Limited a position he held from September 2003 to September 2009; Senior Chief Controller at Abercrombie & Kenta Limited Nairobi, a position he held from January 1996 to July 2003; and was an auditor at Coopers & Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers).
Rajeev is a manager with a wide range of experience in the audit and taxation, tourism and manufacturing industries in east Africa. He has proven leadership skills involving managing, developing and motivating teams to achieve their objectives. Rajeev has first class analytical design and problem solving skills and dedicated to maintaining high quality standards. He has a high degree of commercial acumen and a solution –finding approach. Rajeev has a high level of strategic planning, change management and ICT skills. He has outstanding interpersonal skills and the ability to work with professional at all levels. Rajeev performs well under pressure whilst managing a demanding workload and getting things done. Finally is a disciplined and self motivated individual, proactive in approach and is always committed to excellence.
Mr.Chantrath holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Henley Business School UK. He is a Fellow member at the Association of chartered Certified Accountants UK (FCCA) and an Associate member of the Chartered Institute of Management accountants UK (ACMA).
Patrick Bitature
SIMBA GROUP OF COMPANIES
Patrick Bitature is a Ugandan businessman, entrepreneur and industrialist. Bitature started his business empire with a single company, Simba Telecom, then a retail chain dealership, in MTN air-time. From there he expanded into broadcasting, with the acquisition of Dembe FM radio station, followed by Simba Electronics, an upscale electronics chain of stores. He also has interests in insurance, banking, hotels and resorts. Today, his businesses have subsidiaries in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Nigeria.
In addition to his private business interests, Patrick Bitature serves in the following public fiduciary positions ;he currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Umeme, the electricity distribution company in Uganda.; he is a Member of the Board of Directors of National Insurance Corporation ;he is a Member of the Board of the New Vision Group ;he is a Member of the Board of Global Trust Bank ;he is a Member of the Board of Directors of Radio West FM 100.2, a subsidiary of the New Vision Group. ; he is the Chairman of the Board of Uganda Investment Authority
Patrick is an Associate Member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators (ICSA), in the United Kingdom.
