National Oil ends speculation in CEO Morintat Leparan pick

The board of the National Oil Corporation of Kenya (NOCK) has ended speculation on the firm’s leadership appointing Morintat Leparan as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer.

Morintat joins Nock from continental solar giant D.Light where he served as the company’s country manager for Ethiopia for a brief stint this month.

Leparan replaces George Kubai, an insider appointed as interim boss by Petroleum Cabinet Secretary John Munyes in October replacing long serving CEO Maryjane Mwangi who severed ties with the firm in a controversial exit ahead of her term’s end.

Controversially, Kubai’s appointment reversed the board’s interim appointment of Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) Facilities and Wayleave General Manager James Nyamongo.

The new appointee brings with him a vast wealth of experience stretching to 17 years in both upstream and downstream sectors of oil and gas.

Morintat has previously served Vivo’s Shell as the Retail Territorial Manager for Africa and the Mitsui Company as Assistant Manager for Energy and Infrastructure Projects Development.

Leparan holds a Commerce Degree and an MBA in Strategic Management from the Daystar and the United States International University (USIU).

George Kubai is expected to revert back his primary role as NOCK’s General Manager for Regional Operations.