NAIROBI,Kenya Apr 9-On 21 March 2026, Lewa Wildlife Conservancy announced the appointment of Rob Macaire as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 June 2026.

Macaire, a British national and Oxford University graduate, will take over from Mike Watson, who retires after fifteen years at the helm of one of Africa’s most celebrated conservation institutions.

The announcement, made by the Lewa Board, has generated public interest and debate, particularly around the questions of professional background, the broader direction the conservancy intends to take, and the board’s decision to overlook Kenyan candidates despite its stated commitment to local talent.

Rob Macaire is best known in Kenya for serving as British High Commissioner to Nairobi between 2008 and 2011.

During that period, he was involved in supporting Kenya’s constitutional reform process.

His diplomatic career at the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office spanned more than two decades, with postings in Washington, New Delhi, Bucharest, and Tehran.

After leaving the diplomatic service, Macaire moved into the private sector, serving as Director of Government and Public Affairs at BG Group PLC, a major oil and gas company.

He subsequently took senior advisory roles at Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest mining corporations, where he specialised in environmental governance, political risk management, and social investment.

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy is situated on the foothills of Mount Kenya in Meru County and covers over 250 square kilometres.

It was gazetted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 and is internationally recognised for its work in protecting endangered species, particularly the black rhino, of which it holds approximately 14 percent of Kenya’s total population, and the Grevy’s zebra, of which it holds the largest single population in the world.

The conservancy also hosts elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, wild dogs, and over 490 bird species.

The outgoing CEO, Mike Watson, is a former officer of the British Army who joined Lewa in early 2011 without a formal background in zoology or wildlife science.

He served at Lewa for fifteen years and is credited by the board with growing the organisation’s donor network and regional partnerships.

Watson’s background, like Macaire’s, was not rooted in conservation science, a fact that has not gone unnoticed in the current debate about the board’s selection process.

According to a statement from the Lewa Board, the search for a new CEO began in October 2025 with a focus on candidates from a conservation background.

As the process progressed, the criteria were widened to include leaders with strong business acumen and international networks.

Board Chairman Michael Joseph addressed the shift directly.

“We are entering a new era of conservation that requires a leader who can engage both the global boardroom and the local community,” Joseph said.

“Rob’s diplomatic experience and commitment to Kenyan heritage give....