Kenya Airways (KQ) has announced the appointment of Spencer Stuart, a Chicago-based recruitment firm that offers top management level hiring services, to source a suitable candidate that will succeed outgoing CEO, Titus Naikuni.

The American recruiter, which has provided hiring services for global companies such as Yahoo, noted that since the airline’s focus remains expanding its African business, a candidate with continental experience will be given preference.

Africa remains KQ’s primary market, with the continent contributing over 50 percent of its revenue turnover, Business Daily reported.

According to the airline, Naikuni’s replacement will be expected to posses a set of CEO-level qualities including a “business leader with experience in successfully driving aggressive and sustainable growth, managing complex capital intensive business and delivering operational and safety excellence.”

Naikuni, 60, was expected to step down from his position by year end after leading the East African airline for a little over a decade. He assumed office in 2003. His tenure has however been extended by a year to ensure the transition process is smoothly charted through.

With competition for African consumers heightened, largely due to a rise in local market participation from foreign airlines, particularly Middle Eastern operators, the new CEO will be expected to maintain KQ’s current market share as well as drive innovative strategies to foster growth.