“For me, leadership is about values. I cannot possibly expect excellence at work if I’m not excellent in my work. It is all about setting an example,” he explains.
It has however not been smooth sailing for the company.
The big box, a 4G enabled device that incorporated data and pay TV services, for instance, flopped after three months of launching. According to Safaricom, the set box was pulled out of the market on realisation that it had weak WiFi software that could not support indoor Internet access. It is yet to be re-launched.
The telco has also had a rough couple of months after competitors said it had anti-competitive behaviour which had condemned other players to losses as it continued to make profits that totalled in billions.
As a result, the Communication Authority of Kenya is set to launch a report that will look into the sector and determine whose practice is unethical while declaring which firm is dominant.
Despite that, Collymore is not apologetic of the profits that Safaricom has been able to generate and continues to make. “There is nothing wrong with being declared the dominant player in the industry as it only shows that Kenyans love what we have to offer and that our business model is winning.”
On following the footsteps of Safaricom’s former CEO Michael Joseph, Collymore knows what he wants to achieve when he hangs his boots. Already, Collymore has done significant things at the company having brought M-PESA and 4G to Kenya. He however feels that there is more to be done, especially investing in the people of Kenya.
“Well, it has been 15 great years of service to the people of Kenya; Safaricom therefore want to give back to the people by giving them services that are tailor made for them. I also want to be remembered by my values, what I stand for, especially the trust I have in the abilities of the youths of this country.”
As we wrap up the interview, I ask Collymore which business heads he admires locally and internationally. He says Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Group is a big inspiration, so is Sudanese billionaire Mo Ibrahim.
“Joshua Oigara, the Group Chief Executive Officer of KCB is also one of the people I locally look up to. The fact that he is younger than me by almost twenty years and has been able to turn KCB into such an admirable institution is very admirable. I therefore urge young people to look up to people such as Oigara for inspiration.”
On being speculated to be a millionaire by Kenyans online, Collymore explains that on the contrary, he is no millionaire.
The business mind is also quick to discuss Kenya as an ideal investment destination. He says that Kenya is a great place to bring any idea to life as everything that is needed for a business to work is available in the country.
