Airtel Africa CEO Segun Ogunsanya to retire

Airtel Africa has announced that CEO Segun Ogunsanya will retire this year after more than a decade at the operator and that Airtel's director of transformation, Sunil Taldar, will take over the top job at the start of July.

Ogunsanya joined Airtel in 2012 and ran the Nigeria operations of the telecoms and mobile money company for nine years before his appointment as CEO of the Group in 2021.

"With local knowledge of the African landscape and deep distribution experience he led the company in maintaining double-digit revenue growth over many quarters and to deliver new, innovative products to its customers across the continent," the group said in a statement about his retirement.

When he steps down Ogunsanya will become the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation's inaugural chair and will make himself available to advise the Airtel Africa Board and new CEO for a year.

The Charitable Foundation aims to accelerate the company's sustainability initiatives and charitable operations across its locations in Africa.

"The Charitable Foundation's objectives will focus on promoting digital inclusion, financial inclusion, access to education, and environmental protection. The Charitable Foundation will be a separate legal entity and be independent of the Airtel Africa Group," the group explained.

"I am pleased Segun has agreed, following his retirement, to assume the new role as Chair of the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation, where he will bring his visionary leadership to this new philanthropic initiative to advance development and prosperity across Africa. Segun will retire from the Board with our very best wishes and sincere appreciation for everything he has achieved," said Airtel Africa Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal.

Airtel Africa operates in 14 countries across the continent with around 147.7 million customers at the end of September 2023.

New CEO appointed from within

The Company also announced the appointment of Sunil Taldar as MD and CEO to succeed Ogunsanya as of July 1, 2024.

Taldar joined Airtel Africa in October 2023 as director of transformation and will begin a transition to the CEO role, working alongside Ogunsanya for the next six months.

Airtel Africa has 147.7 million customers across 14 countries in Africa. (Source: jbdodane on Flickr CC 2.0)

Taldar had worked at parent group Bharti Airtel since 2016 – most recently in the role of director of operations for the India business – before moving to the company's Africa business in October last year.

Bharti Mittal said that Taldar's industry experience, strategic vision, constant customer focus and proven record of delivery will enable him to deliver the operator's strategic objectives in Africa and to lead the group in the next stages of its development.

In December 2023 Airtel Africa launched its new data center business, Nxtra by Airtel, on the continent.

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*Top image is of Airtel Africa CEO Segun Ogunsanya. (Source: Airtel Africa)

— Paula Gilbert, Editor, Connecting Africa