Listed publishing firm Longhorn Publishers Plc has announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Maxwell Wahome, will step down at the end of September 2025 after nine years at the company, seven of them as CEO.
The board confirmed the transition in a notice dated August 22, 2025, with former chief executive Simon Ngigi returning as acting CEO.Wahome joined Longhorn in 2016 as CFO and COO before succeeding Ngigi as CEO in 2018.His tenure was marked by regional expansion into West and Central Africa, the launch of new digital platforms, and navigation of the competency-based curriculum (CBC) textbook transition in Kenya.
Wahome’s Legacy
He also steered the company through the COVID-19 disruptions in 2020, when school closures hit textbook demand and the firm issued a profit warning. That period accelerated Longhorn’s push into e-learning and digital content distribution.
Despite strong strategic moves, Longhorn has faced volatile financial results in recent years.
In 2021, the publisher posted a turnaround with a profit before tax of KSh 17.8 million compared to a KSh 295 million loss the previous year.However, by 2023, the firm reported a record net loss of KSh 571 million, citing high provisioning costs linked to curriculum changes.In 2024, revenues rose 42% to KSh 1.5 billion, but the company continued to struggle with inventory write-downs.The half-year to December 2024 showed a narrowed net loss of KSh 148 million, supported by cost management.
Transition and Future Outlook
Incoming acting CEO Simon Ngigi, who previously led Longhorn between 2015 and 2018, brings over 20 years of experience in publishing, educational content development, and market expansion.
The leadership change comes as Longhorn continues to navigate the competitive publishing industry shaped by Kenya’s CBC rollout, government textbook procurement cycles, and increased private sector digital learning solutions.
Chairman Prof. Githu Muigai, in the announcement, thanked Wahome for his contributions and expressed confidence in Ngigi’s ability to guide the company through its next chapter.