The African Development Center (ADC), Microsoft’s flagship engineering hub, has announced the appointment of Catherine Muraga as Managing Director, effective June 1, 2022.
Catherine, a seasoned IT professional with over 15 years of experience, will succeed outgoing MD Jack Ngare, who has managed the ADC from its founding in 2019.
Catherine has vast expertise, is familiar with the Kenyan and regional IT landscapes, and has worked in a variety of businesses including manufacturing, aviation, and banking.
“I am excited to be joining the ADC at this particular time and look forward to continuing the tremendous work that has already begun.” Catherine said.
Catherine was a member of the bank’s Executive Leadership team and oversaw the Engineering team at Stanbic Bank Kenya and South Sudan. She previously worked at Sidian Bank as the Director of IT and Operations.
Catherine is a graduate of Columbia Business School’s Digital Strategies for Business, Oxford University’s Fintech Programme, and Africa Nazarene University’s Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
The ADC has grown to over 450 full-time employees since its establishment in Nairobi in 2019.
In March, the ADC moved from Microsoft’s office where it had been hosted for the previous three years to Dunhill Towers along Waiyaki Way.
The new facility houses the engineering, design, research, and innovation teams, as well as the Microsoft Garage, an incubation hub built as part of Africa’s ongoing efforts to expand ICT innovation.