Bolt, the leading digital taxi-hailing platform in Europe and Africa, has announced the appointment of Takura Malaba as its new Regional Manager for East and Southern Africa. The appointment is effective from January 1, 2023, and Malaba will take over from Kenneth Micah, who has been at the helm since 2019.
His appointment will see him lead the company’s operational efforts on expansion within the region. He is qualified in various fields with a broad range of experience, having Bolt in November 2021 as the Country Manager for ride-hailing in Southern Africa. While in the same position, Malaba was instrumental in strategy and operations.
Paddy Partridge, the Vice President of Bolt Rides, had high praise for Malaba, stating that since joining the company in 2021, he has excelled in leading the South African market. He has successfully navigated the business through intense competition, achieved strong growth in spite of a challenging economic climate, and effectively controlled costs. Additionally, Malaba has played a crucial role in improving the safety and quality of the company’s platform in the country. Partridge expressed confidence in Malaba’s ability to continue achieving success in his new role as Regional Manager.
Before joining Bolt, Malaba worked as a data science manager at Deloitte where he focused on strategy, cloud and machine learning design and implementation. This experience has given him a strong understanding of how to use data to drive growth, and he is well-positioned to lead Bolt’s expansion in the region.
Malaba is enthusiastic about his new position and has stated that his main focus will be to further the growth of the business in the region by promoting the company’s key values of affordability, safety, and sustainability. He believes in working closely with his colleagues, partners, and stakeholders to achieve goals and was looking forward to utilizing his skills and expertise to support Bolt’s success and make a meaningful contribution to the region.
Bolt, an on-demand mobility platform, has rapidly become a leading player in the industry. With over 100 million customers in 45 countries, the company has a strong foundation for growth in the region and Malaba is an ideal fit to guide this expansion. His emphasis on affordability, safety, and sustainability aligns with the company’s goals, and he is poised to make a significant impact on the region while helping Bolt to continue its growth and success.