Geoffrey Gitagia Crowned CIO Of The Year 2024

Geoffrey Gitagia, Group IT Manager at Avenue Healthcare, has been crowned the CIO of The Year 2024 surpassing 17 contenders vying for the coveted recognition among tech leaders in Africa. The 16^th annual edition of the CIO100 Symposium and Awards happened at Enashipai Resort & Spa, Naivasha from 20-22 November 2024.

In an evening of glitz and glamour, the curtains fell on the 2024 CIO100 Symposium & Awards with the crowning of the CIO of the Year 2024. The Gala Dinner celebrated the exceptional achievements of IT leaders from across Africa spearheading digital transformation in their organisations.

Organised by the African digital transformation driver, dx5, the CIO100 Awards programme celebrates organisations and individuals utilising IT innovatively to deliver business value whether by creating a competitive advantage, optimising business processes, enabling growth, improving customer relationships, or digitally transforming the business.

The award-feting gala ceremony marked the grand finale of an intensive three-day immersive symposium where IT delegates participated in insightful keynotes, engaging roundtables, dynamic networking opportunities, and expert-led presentations. The theme of this year’s event was Innovation at Scale: Driving Business Growth Through IT Leadership.

The Symposium was crafted to enhance the capabilities of IT leaders and their teams through relaxed networking, enlightening keynotes, roundtables and presentations that spotlight award-winning initiatives. The delegates connected with industry experts, discovered innovative solutions and built valuable relationships to advance their various organisations’ preparedness.

The CIO of The Year Award is a peer award where CIOs and judges nominate an individual who has excelled in managing the IT leadership function in an organisation.

Gitagia earned this coveted title for leading the Avenue Healthcare project that integrated emerging tech leading to groundbreaking success. This innovative project stood out among over 700 applications submitted to dx5 for the 2024 awards. The vigorous selection process involved scrutinising IT-driven projects that have made a tangible impact on business operations, community development, and digital transformation across the African continent.

After receiving the award at the Gala Dinner, Gitagia thanked his team for their role in the project that won him the award. He also appreciated other contestants saying they all deserved the award because they all had groundbreaking IT projects.

“I want to thank my team. They have made sure that we are set to move things. I want to say thank you to everyone who has advised me. And to my peers and customers, I just want you to know that we can make it. This award is for all of us,” he said.

Harry Hare, the Chairman of dx5 applauded and congratulated Gitagia for the award and further talked about the awards series that has been running for 16 years. “This award is a testament to the resilience, creativity, and dedication of Africa’s technology leaders who are breaking barriers and reshaping the digital landscape,” he stated, adding that “Gitagia exemplifies what it means to lead with vision, strategy, and impact.”

In addition to the CIO of the Year award, the evening also celebrated excellence in various categories, recognising organisations and individuals for their innovation and leadership in IT. Among the notable awards presented were:

Plus One Awards/ Sector Awards  

Banking Sector Award – Co-operative Bank of Kenya

Insurance Sector Award – Jubilee Health Insurance

Education Sector Award – Lagos Business Group

Health Sector Award  – Avenue Healthcare

Public Sector Award  – Konza Technopolis

SACCO Sector Award  – K-Unity SACCO

Special Awards  

IT Infrastructure Award  – Car and General Group Limited

Green Edge Award  – British American Tobacco Kenya

Most Innovative Company of the Year – British American Tobacco Nigeria

Individual Awards   

CISO of the Year Award  – Dr Harrison Nnaji, Group CISO, FirstBank Nigeria

dxNova Woman of the Year  – Deborah Mutungi Ngina

CXO of the Year Award  – Peter Gitau, Chief Technology and Operations Officer (CTO), Standard Chartered Bank Kenya

CIO of the Year Award  – Geoffrey Gitagia, Group IT Director, Avenue Healthcare

This year, dx5 also launched the African Technology Awards to celebrate vendors and tech suppliers. Below are the ATA winners:

Cloud Service Provider of the Year – SEACOM Kenya Limited

Managed Service Provider of the Year – Manage Engine Limited.

Independent Software Vendor of the Year – Smart Applications

Systems Integrator of the Year – CopyCat Group

IT Training and Certification – Computer Pride Limited

Distributor of the Year – Redington

IT Outsourcing Service Provider of the Year – Incentro

Cybersecurity Provider of the Year – Fortinet