Kenneth Sharpe Biography

Early Life & Childhood

Ken Sharpe was born on January 27, 1973, in Harare, Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia) to Kenneth Robert Sharpe and Elaine Loretta Sharpe. He spent his early years in various parts of Zimbabwe, including Mazowe, Bulawayo, and Tafuna Mountain in Shamva. His childhood was shaped by the political and social changes occurring in the country.

During the Rhodesian Bush War in 1978, Ken and his family moved to South Africa to escape the conflict. However, after Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980, they returned to the newly liberated country. At the age of seven, Ken experienced the transition from colonial rule to an independent Zimbabwe, facing a new era of social and cultural change.

Ken’s early years were influenced by his father’s involvement in the mining industry. His father owned a gold mine in Mazowe, near Christon Bank, where Ken spent part of his childhood. Later, the family moved to Bulawayo when his father acquired another mine. He attended Khumalo Junior School before moving again to Shamva when his father bought Trio Mine on Tafuna Mountain. It was during this period that his parents divorced, leading to further changes in his upbringing.

In 1988, at the age of 16, Ken traveled overseas to explore opportunities abroad. He moved to the United Kingdom but returned to Zimbabwe less than two years later to mourn the passing of his great aunt. [4]

Education

Ken left school at 17 to focus on business. Over the years, he built a successful career in the corporate world without a formal academic background. However, he later chose to pursue higher education and enrolled at Harvard Business School.

In June 2022, at the age of 49, Ken completed his studies and earned his degree, becoming an alumnus of Harvard. His decision to return to school after decades in business highlights his commitment to personal and professional development.

Career & Business Achievements

Ken Sharpe began his business career in 1991 when he founded the West Group, a company focused on confectionery and food distribution. The company operated in multiple Southern African countries, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, and South Africa. In South Africa, he also established InterAfrica Franchise Bottlers.

In 2006, West Group transitioned into real estate development and was renamed West Property Company through a partnership with Ukrainian businessman Oleksandr Sheremet. The company developed major housing projects, including Kuwadzana 4 Extension, which consists of approximately 4,500 residential homes, and Mainway Meadows, which features 2,300 homes. In 2022, West Property Company received recognition at the African and Arabian Laufen International Property Awards in Dubai, winning in the "Best Residential Development 20+ Units Zimbabwe" and "Top Developers Zimbabwe" categories.

Sharpe became a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Presidents Organisation (YPO) in 2005 and was appointed chairman of initiatives such as "Doing Business in Africa" and the "Family Philanthropy Network." He also held positions including Chapter Forum Chair and Education Chair before becoming the youngest Chapter Chairman in 2008, a role he held until his resignation in 2015.

In 2017, Sharpe co-founded Global BP Solutions, a technology company, alongside JW Oliver. Through this venture, he invested in solar independent power producers (IPPs) in Ukraine. He later enrolled in the Harvard Business School (HBS) OPM program in 2019 and graduated as an alumnus in 2022. During his studies, he developed the "1 Billion Bricks by 2050" initiative as part of his final dissertation on strategy.

Over his 20-year business career, Sharpe has expanded West Group into multiple sectors, launching various divisions such as West Food Distribution, West Beverages, West Agencies, Intercrop, West Sanitary Pads Manufacturing, West Tech, West Oils, FellowGold Mining, West Star Cash n Carry, and Augur Investments Ltd. These businesses have operated across several Southern African countries.

In 2022, Augur Investments, a company linked to Sharpe, was mentioned in a land dispute case. However, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission cleared both Augur Investments and Sharpe of any wrongdoing.

In 2023, West Property Company became the first property development company to list on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange under the name WestProp Holdings.

Awards and Recognition