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LENNY NGANGA
FOUNDER & CEO, SARACEN MEDIA
A graduate of the University of Nairobi (UoN), Lenny Nganga underwent the compulsory National Youth Service (NYS) program that all pre-university students had to complete. This experience left a lasting impact on him, instilling perseverance, fortitude, and resilience. Once at the University, he studied Political Science and Philosophy, graduating in 1991.
After graduation, Lenny spent six months tarmacking before finally landing a position as a Sales Coordinator at a tour and travel firm called Belair Travel. During his time there, he had the remarkable opportunity of being the official Travel Coordinator for an African leadership conference run under the auspices of International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE), during a time when government scrutiny was to be avoided. This conference allowed Nganga to meet prominent thought leaders like Prof Ali Mazrui, Bingu Wa Mutharika, and Kofi Annan. Although brief, these interactions left Lenny inspired and determined to develop into an empathetic and ethical leader.
Following three years at Belair Travel, Lenny was informed of a job opening by a family friend and mentor, Col (RTD) Ruhiu Ndirangu, at the leading Advertising Agency, Ogilvy and Mather. He applied, underwent a rigorous interview process, and was hired as a Media Executive in February 1994. Under the tutelage of his director, Anne Njau, he learnt the ropes and fell in love with media planning, aspiring to excel and be the best in this field.
Two years into this role as Media Executive, he gained a new boss and mentor, Sharon Penhallrick, from South Africa, who greatly accelerated his learning and facilitated an exchange program with Ogilvy South Africa. This experience exposed him to higher standards, cultural adaptability, and the powerful business impact of great creative paired with excellent media planning and buying. Upon his return to Kenya, he was promoted to Media Manager.
In 1998, Nganga was headhunted by McCann Erickson to be a Media Director, leading the team responsible for Coca-Cola media across 39 countries in East and West Africa, spanning Mauritius to Senegal. The assignment was tasking, especially at a time before the internet…does anyone remember fax machines? In this role, he honed skills in effective communication, cultural understanding, and managing geographically diverse teams.
Two years later, McCann Erickson launched the first media specialist agency in Kenya, Universal McCann, and Lenny was appointed Managing Director (MD) with the responsibility for East and West Africa.
In March 2003, Lenny joined his soon to be partners George Wanjohi, Frank Maina, and Sammy Thuo at Saracen Media, embarking on an entrepreneurial journey. The initial years posed challenges, but the perseverance, fortitude, and resilience instilled by the NYS training helped him weather the tough times and understand the struggles faced by start-ups and early-stage growth companies. To this day, Nganga has great empathy for these kinds of entrepreneur-driven companies, as he understands what they are going through.
From 2006, as Saracen Media entered a growth phase, Lenny was elected Chief Executive Officer (CEO) by his business partners and focused on guiding the company to commercial success while fostering an empathetic, collegial, and learning culture to create an excellent work environment.
During this period, Nganga made a firm commitment to give back to the advertising industry, dedicating his time and expertise to significant leadership roles. For three years, he served as the Vice Chairman of the Association of Practitioners in Advertising (APA), followed by another three years as its Chairman. In these positions, he actively contributed to the growth and development of the industry.
Furthermore, he served, on a pro-bono basis, as Chair of the Technical Committee at the Kenya Audience Research Foundation (KARF) for an impressive seven-year tenure. Notably, he was also one of the Founding Partners of this organisation. During his time at KARF, he focused on spearheading high-quality media consumption research, striving to enhance the industry’s overall effectiveness.
In 2018, Lenny, along with partners Ndirangu wa Maina, Chris Harrison, and Dr Yolande Coombes, designed and launched the Amalgam Leadership Programme, an applied learning, holistic leadership program now in its fifth year.
The Covid-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for Saracen Media, teaching Lenny invaluable lessons in leadership during tough times, highlighting the importance of vulnerability and authentic communication as a leader.
Lenny finds the post-pandemic world exciting, witnessing significant changes in the marketing and media landscape, offering opportunities for growth, acquiring new knowledge, and deepening his leadership skills.
