May 22, 2025 Apex Porter Novelli (APN), a network partner of New York-based global public relations and communication consulting firm, Porter Novelli has unveiled an advisory board. The board will provide expert guidance to advance APN’s strategic plan anchored on driving innovation, client success, and employee growth.
The four-member advisory board which will guide the firm’s fourth phase of growth, has a diversified wealth of experience in banking, oil and gas, health, and international diplomacy. Members of the Board are:
Dr. David Thuku
Dr. David Thuku is a distinguished Professional Certified Coach and accomplished career banker with a fervent commitment to advancing leadership practices for sustainable impact across Africa.
Since 2018, Dr. Thuku has been instrumental in empowering leaders across diverse sectors in Africa through his roles as an executive coach, mentor, and leadership facilitator. His efforts have significantly enhanced leadership skills and organizational effectiveness.
Dr. Thuku’s illustrious banking career spanned 29 years, commencing as a management trainee at Standard Chartered Bank in July 1990. He ascended through leadership roles at Standard Chartered Bank and Absa Bank (formerly Barclays Bank), culminating in his tenure as Managing Director and CEO at Family Bank from May 2016 to November 2018.
Presently, Dr. Thuku serves as Chairman and board member of Muthokinju Paints and Hardware Limited and CDI Africa Coaching Group. He also contributes his expertise as a board member at Ecobank Kenya and on the ChildFund Kenya Advisory Board.
Dr. Thuku has previously served as President and Advisor to the Board for the International Coaching Federation (ICF) Kenya Chapter and as a University Council Member at KCA University.
Dr. Thuku holds a doctorate degree in Business Administration from the University of Liverpool, a masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Nairobi, and a Bachelor of Education degree from Kenyatta University. He also earned a post-graduate Diploma in Marketing of Financial Services from the Marketing Institute of Singapore.
Dr. Thuku is the author of “Just Being: Reflections on Life, Coaching, and the Evolving Story of the Future Africa” and has contributed to books such as “Voices for Leadership” and “Leadership Made in Africa, Volume 2.”
Dr. Mary Thongoh-Muia
Dr. Mary Waceke Thongoh-Muia is an inspirational and transformational leader with over 27 years of recognized expertise in Systems Thinking, Organizational Design and Development, Strategy Formulation and Execution, Institutional Restructuring, Human Resource Management, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and ESG (Environment, Social, And Governance) expert. She is very passionate about championing institutional transformation and creating high-performing, self-managing, agile, inclusive, and diverse teams.
Dr. Waceke is a highly sought-after C-suite executive coach and facilitator for self-organizing teams and organizational healing work. She has been among the Top 40 Under 40 successful women in Corporate Kenya leadership and the overall winner in the ‘Rising Stars Awards’ in the private and public sectors for her contribution to the change and transformation of institutions.
She is currently a leadership and management consultant and a leading consultant on race and anti-racism, DEI for the United Nations, and global organizations. She is also an expert panelist for the Centre for Global Inclusion and a contributor to the Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Benchmark report, GDEIB 2021-2026.
Mary has previously served as the Geographical Diversity Advisor to the United Nations Secretariat and as DEI consultant for the UN Secretariat on the implementation of the Strategic Action Plan on Anti-Racism. She was the consultant supporting the United Nations Secretary-General’s task force on anti-racism and dignity for all within the UN.
She has also held senior leadership and consultancy roles in the public, private, and international non-government (INGO) sectors. Among the organizations she has served are the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) as HR Director, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen) as Head of Performance and Change, TotalEnergies as HR Change & Manager, and as DEI consultant for FSD Africa, Greenpeace International, One Acre Fund, among other INGOs. She has been a board member of the Energy Regulatory Commission (now Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority), the Insurance Regulatory Authority, and a founder member of the Association of Change Management Professionals in Africa and the UNwep Leadership Group.
Mary holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, a master’s degree in Environmental Management focusing on Sustainable Development, and a doctorate degree in Environmental Governance and Management with a focus on climate-smart value chains. She is also an alumna of Harvard Kennedy School of Government and Strathmore Business School.
She is a fellow of the Institute of Human Resource Management, an accredited executive coach from the Academy of Executive Coaching (UK), a certified master professional in balanced scorecard from George Washington University and the Balanced Scorecard Institute (USA), a certified project management professional, and a certified public secretary.
Lena Munuve
Lena Munuve is a seasoned Corporate Business Executive with a track record of initiating and delivering transformational change and business growth. She is an Accredited Associate Executive Coach from The Academy of Executive Coaching (UK).
She has previously held leadership roles for over 20 years in local and international assignments in top four Oil and Gas Multinationals namely Esso, Exxon Mobil, BP, and Shell.
Between May 2012 and January 2020, Lena served as the Retail Manager at Shell where she oversaw Shell’s Retail Business and Convenience Retail Business of US$ 780 million in proceeds. She oversaw transformation of over 200 Service Stations from being fuelling stations to destination points that include over 150 Convenience Stores dealing in a wide product portfolio covering Fuels, Lubricants, LPG, Ethanol, Convenience shops, Quick Service restaurants, Pharmacies, Car wash facilities and garages. She won over 10 awards in global competitions for her work in transforming customer service at Service Stations.
She currently serves on the Board of Competition Authority of Kenya where she serves as the Chairperson of Technical and Strategy committee. She has previously held similar roles in Kenya Institute of Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) and at Mathari National Teaching and Referral Hospital (MNTRH).
She holds a Master of Business Administration Degree in Strategic Management and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Nairobi, as well as a Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). She has undertaken numerous professional courses in Leadership Development, Corporate Governance, and Employee Relations.
Robert Muhia
Robert Muhia is an accomplished business leader with a wealth of over 15 years’ experience in leadership and financial management. He has extensive first-hand experience in financial strategy and operations, business leadership, and partnerships with Chief Executive Officers, Boards of Directors, shareholders, and regulators amongst other stakeholders.
He is highly skilled in strategy formulation and execution, financial reporting and analytics, compliance and risk management, audit investments, planning and budgeting, forecasting, working capital optimization, corporate governance, as well as people management.
Robert currently serves as a director at Corporate and Pension Trust Services and is the Group Chief Finance Officer at Zamara Group (Formerly Alexander Forbes), a financial services provider in pension administration, actuarial consulting, and reinsurance and insurance broking operating in Kenya, Nigeria, Malawi, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, and the United Arab Emirates.
Prior to this, Robert served as the Finance Manager at Dry Associates Investment Bank, where he oversaw deals in corporate finance, wealth management, investment advisory services, pension fund management, and offshore investments.
He also served as a director and board chair at Entrust Advisory Ltd, Finance Consultant Summation Consultants and as an accountant at both Books First Ltd and Dawaline Pharmaceuticals (K) Ltd respectively.
Robert is a graduate of Harvard Business School, Leadership Programme 2022 and an alumnus of the University of Nairobi where he graduated with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree in Finance and a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance. He is a Certified Public Accountant of Kenya (CPA-K) as well as a good-standing member of the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya (ICPAK) and the Institute of Directors (Kenya).