APA Apollo Group has appointed Risper Ohaga as its new Group Chief Executive Officer. She will take over from Ashok Shah, who retires after more than 50 years in the insurance industry.

The change takes effect on July 1, 2026. Risper will join APA after leaving her current role as Chief Financial Officer at East African Breweries Limited (EABL). The group announced the decision on February 25, 2026 in Nairobi.

APA Apollo, one of East Africa’s leading financial services groups, said the board chose Risper to keep the business stable and drive further growth. Ashok steps down after building the group into a trusted name across the region.

Daniel Ndonye, Chairman of Apollo Investments Ltd, praised Ashok’s contribution.

“Ashok’s leadership of over five decades has laid an indelible mark not only on APA Group, but on the insurance industry in the region. His unwavering commitment to integrity, innovation and inclusive growth has built APA into the strong trusted entity it is today,” he said.

Ashok also reflected on his time at the helm.

“The Apollo experience over the past fifty years has been extraordinary. Together with our team, I have built a trusted, innovative, and resilient group of companies. I am confident that the strong foundation in place will continue to build on this foundation,” he said.

Proven finance leadership experience

Risper brings wide experience in finance and leadership. She currently serves as Group Chief Finance Officer and Executive Director at East Africa Reinsurance Company (EARe). She also sits as a Non-Executive Director on the APA Insurance board.

Before that, she spent six years at EABL after joining in February 2020 as CFO. During her time there, she helped the company manage the impact of Covid-19, supply chain challenges and rising costs.

The EABL board said she played a key role in strengthening the company’s finances.

Risper began her career in senior finance and internal audit roles. She worked at KPMG East Africa before moving to Barclays Bank in 2008, now known as Absa. She held regional audit roles across East Africa and later became CFO at Barclays Bank Zambia. She left Absa in 2020 to join EABL.

She has received several awards, including CFO of the Year 2024, the Women on Boards Award 2024 and the Inclusive Leader Award – East Africa 2024. She also reached the finals of the 2025 Institute of Certified Secretaries Awards.

Risper said she looks forward to the new role.

“I am excited to take on this new role at APA Apollo Group, where each day presents an opportunity to make an impact on the lives of our people accross East Africa,” she said.