Mary-Ann Musangi, Managing Director of HACO Industries, was honored as the Woman Industrialist of the Year at the 2025 Women in Manufacturing (WIM) Awards.
Presented by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), the WIM award recognises women driving industrial growth, sustainability, and economic empowerment.
Under Musangi’s leadership, HACO Industries has become a beacon of innovation and sustainability. She transformed the company from contract manufacturing to localised production, enhancing quality control and supporting Kenya’s industrialisation goals.
Musangi established an in-house Research & Development department to boost product competitiveness and commissioned a solar-powered plastic manufacturing plant that integrates post-consumer recycled materials, advancing circular economy practices. Her strategic distributor partnerships have expanded HACO’s brands into 10 key markets across East and Central Africa.
Accepting the award, Musangi credited her team and the broader community of women in manufacturing. “This recognition reflects the resilience and creativity of women in our industry. It underscores the transformative power of sustainable, value-driven leadership,” she said.
As Chairperson of KAM’s WIM Program, Musangi advocates for greater female participation in manufacturing, promoting access to finance, market linkages, and technical training. Her efforts inspire women to break barriers and lead in African manufacturing.
Background and Career
Musangi holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and a Master of Science in Management from the University of Surrey, UK. Her career spans roles at Coca-Cola, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), GlaxoSmithKline, and Ogilvy & Mather.
She served as Marketing Director at KCB for five years before entering the hospitality sector, launching Secret Garden (2011) and Olpul (2017), both of which closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
She has served on boards including HACO Tiger Brands and UAP Investments. Musangi became HACO’s Managing Director in 2019.
Making Space For The Next Generation of Women in Manufacturing
2025 WIM Awards: Celebrating Women in Manufacturing
Hosted by KAM, the 2025 WIM Awards, themed “Accelerating Action: Empowering Women in Manufacturing for Progress,” honoured women reshaping the industry.
Guest speaker Agnes Netunze, CEO of Arise Kollections and Koko Agri Farms Ltd, Uganda, emphasized the need for operational support, networks, and investment to drive inclusive industrialization.
She noted that manufacturing contributes less than 12% to most African countries’ GDP, underscoring the urgency of scaling efforts with women at the forefront.
KAM CEO Tobias Alando reaffirmed the association’s commitment to inclusivity, citing WIM’s mentorship, capacity-building, and policy advocacy initiatives.
Musangi highlighted persistent challenges, including limited market and finance access, and called for grassroots empowerment across all manufacturing sub-sectors.
2025 WIM Award Winners
- WIM Industrialist of the Year: Mary-Ann Musangi, HACO Industries
- AfCFTA Warrior: Flora Mutahi, Melvin Marsh International
- WIM Lifetime Achiever: Mary Ngechu, Lineplast Group Ltd
- WIM ESG Warrior: Mary Ngechu, Takanimali
- WIM Executive of the Year: Lina Githuka, KWAL
- WIM Startup/Innovator of the Year: Harriet Chebet Ng’ok, Harriet Botanicals
Musangi’s leadership and vision continue to shape a more inclusive, sustainable future for African manufacturing.
