PG
8
NEWS BRIEFS
Crown Paints Kenya Limited CEO Mr Rakesh Rao is the CEO
of the Year. Mr Rao won the prestigious title during the 2014
Company of the Year Award (COYA), organized by Kenya
Institute of Management (KIM).
The award celebrates the pioneers and game-changers in
the region’s business landscape. The recipient of the award
is a CEO who has exemplified strong leadership and focus
that has enabled the organization to surpass its strategic
objectives. No doubt the title is a befitting one to Mr Rao.
A month ago, Mr Rao was nominated for CNBC Business
Leader of the Year alongside industry captains who
include Benson Irungu Wairegi – CEO of British American
Investment, James Mworia – CEO and Managing Director of
Centum Investment Company, and Reginald Mengi – CEO of
the IPP Group.
As Mr Rao marks a decade at the helm of Crown Paints
next year, he has demonstrated accountability, best
practice, integrity and innovation in the business. Mid last
year, Mr Rao unveiled the painter’s empowerment program,
which has so far trained more than 1000 painters in Kenya
and Uganda alone.
However, Mr Rao acknowledges the challenges face keeping
up with the pace of change. Mr Rao always says that he
looks at change as an opportunity, not as a disruption.
He believes that it’s really important for Crown Paints to
welcome change because they have learned that resisting it
and trying to will it away is futile, and that trying to protect
the status quo—that’s never really a winning strategy.
Crown Paints Kenya Limited has opened a top class paint
showroom in Eldoret in partnership with Eagle Hardware’s
Limited. The showroom, which was opened in November
2014, showcases Crown Paints’ range of products.
During the launch, Crown Paints Kenya Limited CEO
Mr Rakesh Rao said, “Crown paints develop strategic
partnerships with local traders and we are proud to partner
with Eagle Hardware’s Limited in Eldoret. The showroom
will feature designer fashion finishes, textured finishes,
Italian design, marbles and quartz from Kalingastone,
waterproofing and construction chemicals from Pidilite.”
Mr Rao explained that the rationale to expand into Eldoret
was driven by the growth in housing sector in the area.
Consumers within the area have also become quite
sophisticated and are demanding more quality products,”
he explained. The Showroom has been designed as a
one-stop colour expression centre, complete with colour
visualizer to simulate room sets.
The colour visualizer features a large touch screen that
enables customers to explore different colour schemes
in varying room settings. Customers will experience a
virtual tour of the room while ‘splashing’ different paints on
‘furniture’, ‘floors’ and ‘walls’ to make an informed choice.
WE’RE IN
ELDORET
