Bob Collymore
Robert Collymore is the CEO of Safaricom Limited, a leading communications company, where he has driven an inclusive agenda that leverages the power of the private sector to improve people’s lives.
Robert “Bob” Collymore is the CEO of Safaricom Limited, a leading communications company in Africa and pioneer of M-PESA, the world’s most developed mobile payment system.
Bob has more than 30 years of commercial experience in the telecommunications sector. He believes that the technology is a critical tool that can enable unprecedented access to essential services such as healthcare, education and financial inclusion. His work experience spans across diverse countries such as Japan, South Africa and the United Kingdom, where he’s held progressively senior roles in marketing, purchasing, retail and corporate affairs.
He believes that the global business community is a key catalyst to fast-track inclusive economic growth, with the Global Goals being the most effective lens that can enable businesses to see inequalities as business opportunities. As a commissioner for the Global Commission for Business & Sustainable Development and member of the B-Team, Mr Collymore drives a progressive agenda that brings together high-level business leaders to catalyse a better way of doing business, for the wellbeing of people and the planet.
As part of his work on the board of Acumen, Mr Collymore has driven an inclusive agenda that aims to leverage the power of the private sector and private-public partnerships to improve the lives of the poor.
In April 2015, then United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon re-appointed Mr. Collymore to the United Nations Global Compact Board. This was in recognition of Safaricom’s commitment to environmental, sustainability and anti-corruption issues as well as the work it is undertaking to address maternal health and child mortality. He has also served as a Commissioner on the United Nations Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for women and children.