Head of Sales – Africa

Bupa Global is seeking a dynamic and experienced Head of Sales – Africa to spearhead commercial growth across Kenya and other priority African markets. This is a senior leadership role that places you at the forefront of Bupa's African expansion strategy, driving new business acquisition, retention, and distribution innovation within the health insurance sector.

Reporting into Bupa Global's international leadership, you will be the face of Bupa across the continent — building influential partnerships, leading a high-performing commercial team, and translating long-term strategic ambitions into measurable market results. This role demands a commercially astute leader who thrives in complex, multi-market environments and can balance strategic thinking with hands-on execution.

• Lead delivery of new business growth, retention targets, and distribution channel expansion across Kenya and priority African markets.
• Develop and execute go-to-market strategies aligned with Bupa Global's long-term growth ambitions in Africa.
• Build and manage strategic partnerships with brokers, banks, corporates, and affinity partners to diversify revenue streams.
• Explore, design, and implement a Tied Agency model in Kenya to strengthen direct distribution capabilities.
• Represent Bupa as a visible commercial leader across Africa through in-person engagements, industry events, and digital channels.
• Lead, inspire, and develop the Africa commercial team, effectively managing both co-located and remote team members.
• Foster a high-performance, accountability-driven sales culture with clear KPIs and regular performance reviews.
• Engage senior client and partner stakeholders to nurture lasting relationships and ensure exceptional service delivery.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with underwriting, operations, marketing, compliance, and product development teams to deliver seamless broker and customer experiences.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and regulatory changes to continuously refine sales strategy.
• Ensure all sales activities comply with local regulatory requirements and Bupa's internal governance frameworks.

• Demonstrated ability to lead senior sales teams and drive business development outcomes in health insurance, financial services, or a closely related industry.
• Must hold a valid insurance professional accreditation — this is an essential, non-negotiable requirement.
• Ability to design and manage multi-channel distribution models including brokers, bancassurance, tied agents, and affinity partnerships.
• Proven experience operating within complex regulatory environments across multiple African markets.
• Track record of managing cross-border or multi-market sales operations with measurable revenue impact.
• Ability to communicate, negotiate, and influence at C-suite and Board level with both clients and internal stakeholders.
• Capacity to analyse commercial data, interpret market intelligence, and make data-driven strategic decisions.
• Proficiency in CRM platforms (e.g. Salesforce) and Microsoft Office Suite for pipeline management and reporting.
• Fluency in English; proficiency in additional African or European languages is an advantage.
• Strong ability to balance strategic planning with operational agility in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Bupa Global offers a competitive executive-level compensation package commensurate with the seniority of this role. While the exact figures are not publicly disclosed, the package is expected to include a robust base salary, performance-linked bonus, and comprehensive benefits befitting a global health insurance leader. Candidates are encouraged to discuss compensation expectations during the recruitment process.

This role is ideal for a senior sales leader with deep roots in the African insurance or financial services landscape — someone who has built distribution networks, closed significant partnerships, and led cross-border commercial teams. You are a confident, visible leader who combines strategic vision with the drive to roll up your sleeves when needed. You are comfortable with ambiguity, excel at stakeholder management, and are passionate about expanding access to quality health coverage across Africa.

You should NOT apply if you do not hold an insurance professional accreditation, have no experience in health insurance or financial services, or are seeking a purely strategic advisory role without team leadership responsibility.

Interested and qualified candidates should apply through Bupa Global's official careers portal or the platform where this role was advertised. Prepare an updated CV and a cover letter clearly outlining your relevant sales leadership experience, insurance accreditation, and your vision for Bupa's growth in Africa. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment.