Patrick Quarcoo

{{Short description|Ghanaian Kenya-based entrepreneur}} {{Infobox person | name = Patrick Quarcoo | image = | caption = | birth_name = Patrick Quarcoo | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1957|5|23}} | birth_place = Cape Coast, Ghana | other_names = PQ | education = {{unbulleted list |BSc Administration, University of Ghana (1977–1980). |MBA, Manchester Business School (1984–1986). |Senior Executive Program, Harvard University (2017). }} | occupation = Entrepreneur · Media Executive | years_active = 2000–present | known_for = Founder & CEO of Radio Africa Group | spouse = Late Gifty Quarcoo (married until her death in 2020) | children = 3 | footnotes = The information in this infobox was sources from Tuko News<ref name="TukoBio">{{Cite web|last=Waruguru|first=Grace|date=2020-10-20|title=Who is Patrick Quarcoo? Meet the Radio Africa Group CEO|url=https://www.tuko.co.ke/385623-who-patrick-quarcoo-meet-radio-africa-group-ceo.html|access-date=2025-05-09|website=Tuko.co.ke}}</ref> }}

'''Patrick Quarcoo''' (born 23 May 1957),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Patrick QUARCOO personal appointments - GOV.UK |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/ddGrQCB-eKZIMTSjaJUi_hThHoE/appointments |access-date=11 May 2025 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref> commonly known as '''PQ''', is a Ghanaian-born, Kenya-based entrepreneur and media executive. He co-founded and was CEO of the Radio Africa Group, an East African media conglomerate operating radio, television, print, and digital platforms in Kenya and Uganda.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ngigi |first1=Elizabeth |title=Patrick Quarcoo retires as Radio Africa Group CEO after 24 years at the helm |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/news/patrick-quarcoo-retires-as-radio-africa-group-ceo-after-24-years-at-the-helm--4670706 |access-date=11 May 2025 |publisher=Nation Africa |date=26 June 2024}}</ref> Quarcoo received the International Recognition Award at the 2012 Ghana UK-Based Achievement Awards.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last= |date=2012-09-25 |title=HUGH QUARSHIE HELPS LAUNCH GUBA 2012 AWARDS - GUBA Awards |url=https://gubaawards.com/2012/09/hugh-quarshie-helps-launch-guba-2012-awards/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=GUBA Awards |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Early life and education==

Quarcoo was born in Cape Coast, Ghana, into a family that valued education and print media—his grandmother told him, “Book no lies,” inspiring his lifelong passion for journalism.<ref name="TukoBio"/> He earned a Bachelor of Science in Administration from the University of Ghana (1977–1980).<ref name="TukoBio"/> He completed an MBA at Alliance Manchester Business School (1984–1986), specializing in International Marketing and Corporate Strategy.<ref name="TukoBio"/> In 2017, he attended Harvard University’s Senior Executive Program.

==Career==

===Early journalism career===

After university, Quarcoo joined Reuters in Uganda, where he worked as a reporter throughout the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-03-03 |title=Meet Ghanaian Mogul Behind Kiss, Classic, Radio Jambo & More - Business Today Kenya |url=https://businesstoday.co.ke/meet-ghanaian-mogul-behind-kiss-classic-radio-jambo-more/ |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Business Today |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2000, he relocated to Nairobi to launch his own media venture with British journalist William Pike.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mwende |first=Sharon |date=2024-05-09 |title=Radio Africa Group Convergence Director William Pike retires |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2024-10-04-radio-africa-group-convergence-director-william-pike-retires |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref>

===Radio Africa Group===

In 2000, Quarcoo and William Pike co-founded the Radio Africa Group, headquartered in Westlands, Nairobi. Their flagship station, Kiss 100 FM, quickly became the top youth-oriented radio channel in Nairobi.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ngigi|first=Elizabeth|title=Meet Ghanaian Mogul Behind Kiss, Classic, Radio Jambo & More|url=https://businesstoday.co.ke/meet-ghanaian-mogul-behind-kiss-classic-radio-jambo-more/|website=Business Today Kenya|date=2023-03-03|access-date=2025-05-09}}</ref> Over the next decade, the group launched a series of other stations<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mwendwa |first=George |date=2020-07-05 |title=Niche radios feeling the heat? |url=https://nation.africa/kenya/life-and-style/buzz/niche-radios-feeling-the-heat--157722 |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Daily Nation |language=en}}</ref> and a newspaper, The Star (Kenya).<ref>{{cite web|last=Kihuria|first=Njonjo|title=The Day The Star Was Born In 2007|url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/lifestyle/society/when-the-star-was-born-2043126|website=Business Daily Africa|date=2019-01-19|access-date=2025-05-09}}</ref> In 2014, the group entered television with Bamba TV, its free-to-air digital channel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio Africa enters digital TV market|url=https://businesstoday.co.ke/radio-africa-enters-digital-tv-market/|website=Business Today Kenya|date=2014-12-22|access-date=2025-05-09}}</ref> Radio Africa also expanded regionally, co-owning Capital FM and Beat FM in Uganda.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-12-25 |title=South African media group buys stake in two radio stations |url=https://www.businessdailyafrica.com/bd/markets/south-african-media-group-buys-stake-in-two-radio-stations--2073306 |access-date=2025-05-11 |website=Business Daily |language=en}}</ref>

===Retirement and legacy===

After 24 years at the helm, Quarcoo stepped down as CEO in June 2024 to pursue personal interests, remaining on the board as a major shareholder.<ref name="Citizen">{{cite news|last=Kimani|first=Brian|title=Radio Africa Group's CEO Patrick Quarcoo steps down|url=https://www.citizen.digital/news/radio-africa-groups-ceo-patrick-quarcoo-steps-down-n344723|newspaper=Citizen Digital|date=2024-06-26|access-date=2025-05-09}}</ref> Under his leadership, Radio Africa Group launched six radio stations, one newspaper, a television channel, and multiple digital platforms, solidifying its role as an East African media powerhouse.<ref name="Citizen"/>

==Personal life==

Quarcoo was married to Gifty Quarcoo, who died from cancer in April 2020; the couple had three children.<ref name="TukoBio"/>

==Awards and nominations==

{| class="wikitable sortable" ! Year !! Award ceremony !! Award !! Category !! Result |- | 2012 || GUBA Awards<ref name=":0" />|| International Recognition Award || International Recognition || style="background:#C6EFCE;" | Winner |- | 2024 || AllAfrica Media Leaders’ Summit<ref>{{Cite web |last=ETYANG |first=PERPETUA |date=9 May 2024 |title=Radio Africa's Quarcoo feted with Lifetime Achievement Award |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/sports/2024-05-09-radio-africas-quarcoo-feted-with-lifetime-achievement-award |access-date=11 May 2025 |website=The Star |language=en}}</ref>|| Lifetime Achievement Award || Lifetime Achievement || style="background:#C6EFCE;" | Winner |- | 2024 || Marketing Society of Kenya Awards<ref name="MSK2024">{{cite web |last=Mwende |first=Sharon |date=3 December 2024 |title=Former Radio Africa Group CEO Patrick Quarcoo feted with MSK Warrior Award |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/in-pictures/2024-12-03-photos-former-radio-africa-group-ceo-patrick-quarcoo-feted/ |access-date=9 May 2025 |website=The Star}}</ref>|| MSK Warrior Award || Outstanding Achievement in Marketing || style="background:#C6EFCE;" | Winner |}

==References==

{{DEFAULTSORT:Quarcoo, Patrick}} Category:Ghanaian businesspeople Category:Kenyan businesspeople Category:University of Ghana alumni Category:Alumni of the Manchester Business School Category:Living people Category:1950s births

Patrick Quarcoo

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