As the Startups and SMEs Lead for Microsoft’s Africa Transformation Office, Maithya leads a team focused on empowering these organisations through digital technologies.

Based in Kenya, he has held various commercial roles in multiple industry sectors in the last 20 years, most recently as the Investment Director for ARCH Cold Chain Solutions East Africa Fund, one of the ARCH Emerging Markets funds. Together with the Managing Director, he was responsible for the management of the US$100 million East Africa Cold Chain Solutions fund.

Prior to this Maithya held various positions at Barclays Bank, where he gained experience in strategy, commercial development, consumer and corporate banking. His most recent role with the bank was as Head of Global Clients and Financial Institutions team for Barclays Bank in Kenya, which later rebranded to ABSA Bank Kenya.

Earlier in his career, Maithya worked at Cadbury Schweppes between 2001 and 2007 where he held positions in Sales and Marketing with responsibility covering emerging markets in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

During his career, Maithya has lived and worked in Kenya, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, South Africa, Nigeria and Uganda. He holds a BSc Physics and Mathematics from the University of Nairobi as well as an MBA from London Business School, United Kingdom, and a Chartered Institute of Marketing Diploma. In 2005, Maithya founded the Precious Sisters Charity in Kenya. The Charity supports bright individuals from underprivileged backgrounds by paying their tuition fees through secondary school. As of January 2022, the charity had supported and actively mentored more than 320 girls in four schools, with 96 percent of them securing admission to local and international colleges and universities. In recognition of the charity’s impact, Maithya was awarded a Barclays Global Citizenship Award.