New CEO for AMREF Flying Doctors
The Board of Directors of AMREF Flying Doctors (AFD) has announced the appointment of Stephen Gitau as the new Chief Executive Officer Designate, replacing Dr Bettina Vadera, who is retiring at the end of this year
Steve started transitioning into his new role on 1 October, and will fully assume his new office on 1 January 2020, with the two of them working closely during the transition.
Amref Health Africa, the charitable organisation that leads AMREF Flying Doctors, stated that it is ‘immensely grateful to Bettina for the energy, vision, and compassion that she dedicated to AMREF as a whole and AMREF Flying Doctors in particular, during her 21 years of exemplary service as an emergency flight physician, Medical Director, and for the last eight years as the CEO’. Under her leadership, AMREF Flying Doctors developed from an aeromedical Outreach Programme of Amref Health Africa into an internationally accredited air ambulance company that owns and operates a fleet of dedicated air ambulance aircraft, including two jets, and has become an important pillar and vital source of funding for Amref Health Africa.
Steve has been the Chief Finance & Administration Officer (CFAO) of AMREF Flying Doctors for the last eight years. He holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Strathmore Business School, a BA in Economics from University of Nairobi and is a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) and Certified Public Accountant (CPA-K).
Steve joined AMREF Flying Doctors, when it was transitioning from a department of Amref Health Africa the NGO, to a commercial entity in 2011. He has been part of the Executive Team since then and is determined to take AMREF Flying Doctors to the next level. Under his leadership and with the support of the Board of Directors and the staff of AMREF Flying Doctors, the company is looking forward to future prosperity and growth.