The D&S focus on digital innovation and transformation was recognised recently at the annual Chief Information Officer 100 Awards held in Naivasha. These ICT based awards celebrate organizations and the teams within them that are using digital technology in innovative ways to deliver business value, create competitive advantage, optimize business processes, enable growth or improve the customer experience.
Branch and Business Unit Managers from across the D&S group recently gathered in Nairobi at the D&S HO Conference facility for a two-day event focusing on the key aspects of their responsibilities. Organized by Branch Managing Executive Margaret Kuchio, the conference theme was 'Putting Customers First' and the 85 participants enjoyed a varied programme that included a talk by Diane Korir of D&S partner Standard Chartered Bank who gave her perspective on the customer journey, various contributions from D&S Managers, who shared experiences with their colleagues and a participatory exercise designed to generate ideas.
The Nairobi suburb of Westlands has played a very significant role in the D&S history as it was there that the first premises were located back in 1946 and also where the first branch was established, then called the Pool Shop, in 1994. In 2003 the branch was moved to its second Centro House location and then re-branded Davis & Shirtliff from where it grew to be one of D&S's biggest branches.
Located in the heart of the Maasai Mara Game Reserve in Narok County, Olkuroto Primary School was established by the local community in 2009 with the assistance of a number of donors, key among them The Society of Jesus.
A key event in the D&S calendar is the annual Management Conference which has become a tradition going back over 25 years and which brings together all senior managers from across the Group for an intensive programme of interaction and idea sharing that marks the start of the D&S planning cycle.
Continuous improvement philosophy Kaizen has long been practiced at D&S but the decision was recently taken to formalize its adoption throughout the organization with the initiative being officially launched at D&S HO by CEO David Gatende and new D&S Kaizen specialist Benedict Ndulu at the D&S HO Training Center.
Kimari Gachanja is one of the legends of D&S having joined the firm just two years after its foundation in 1946 and then going on to give 50 years of exemplary and unblemished service as a master technician and installer.