Quick Facts
Biography
James Mwirigi Mworia is a Kenyan lawyer, accountant, and business executive. He is the managing director and chief executive officer of Centum Investments, the largest publicly traded private capital firm in eastern Africa. He has served in that capacity since 2008.
Background and education
Mworia was born in 1978. He attended Alliance High School, Strathmore University, and the University of Nairobi. He has a Bachelor of Laws from Nairobi University. He is also a certified public accountant and a chartered financial analyst.
Work history
In 2001, Mworia began working as a filing clerk at Centum Investments. Despite having a law degree and several other financial and accounting diplomas and certificates, he accepted this entry-level position. He gradually rose through the ranks, and in 2005 he was appointed chief investment officer at Centum Investments. He served in that position until December 2006, when he joined TransCentury Investments as its head of investments.
In 2008, at age 30, he was appointed chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director at Centum. During his first six years as CEO, Centum increased its asset base from KES:6 billion (US$69 million) to approximately KES:30 billion (US$350 million).
Other responsibilities
He serves as the chairman of the board of directors at Sidian Bank. He also serves as a board member at the Nairobi Stock Exchange, effective June 2015. In September 2016, he was named the highest paid executive among the five largest corporations in Kenya, with an annual compensation package valued at KES:201.1 million (approx. US$2 million) annually.
Personal life
According to a 2011 published report, James Mworia is a married father.