President Prof. Arthur Peter Mutharika has appointed seasoned corporate executive Simon Itaye as the new Minister of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, in the latest cabinet appointments aimed at strengthening Malawi’s economic transformation agenda.
Itaye replaces George Partridge, who has been appointed Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi, marking a strategic reshuffle that places experienced financial and corporate leaders at the helm of key economic institutions.
The appointment brings into government one of Malawi’s most accomplished private-sector leaders, with decades of experience in industry, finance, investment and corporate governance.
Itaye’s professional journey is underpinned by a strong academic foundation. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BCom) degree from the University of Malawi and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA), one of the world’s most respected professional accounting bodies. He further strengthened his leadership credentials with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of West London.
Armed with this blend of academic and professional training, Itaye built a distinguished career in Malawi’s private sector. He previously served as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Packaging Industries (Malawi) Limited, popularly known as Nampak Malawi, where he gained hands-on experience in manufacturing, industrial operations, value addition and regional trade competitiveness.
Beyond executive management, Itaye has played a prominent role in corporate governance across several key sectors. He served as Non-Executive Chairman of Old Mutual Life Assurance Company (Malawi) Limited and Chairman of Investments Alliance Limited, contributing to strategic oversight, asset growth and long-term financial planning. His leadership portfolio also includes service as Chairman of Marsh, with a focus on risk management and corporate resilience.
His boardroom experience extends to institutions such as Easy Loans Limited and the Millennium Challenge Account Malawi, providing him with exposure to development finance, lending, and institutional accountability.
Itaye is also widely recognised for his long association with Press Corporation Limited, one of Malawi’s largest and most diversified conglomerates. After serving for several years as a non-executive director, he rose to become Chairman of the Board, offering strategic leadership across a wide range of sectors including banking, telecommunications, energy, manufacturing and services.
With a career grounded in financial discipline, strategic thinking and corporate governance, Simon Itaye now transitions from the boardroom to public service. His appointment is widely seen as a boost to Malawi’s drive for industrialisation, private-sector growth, trade expansion and economic diversification, at a time when the country is seeking to strengthen value addition and competitiveness both regionally and globally.
