Airtel Africa CFO to retire in July, deputy CFO promoted

Pan-African telecoms operator Airtel Africa has announced that CFO Jaideep Paul will retire in July 2025 after 11 years in the role.

Paul informed the Airtel Africa board of his decision and will step down from his position as executive director and CFO after company's July AGM.

He will be leaving Airtel Africa to pursue a new position within the wider Bharti Group, the parent company of Airtel Africa.

The telco said that Paul will ensure a smooth transition to Kamal Dua, currently deputy CFO, who will become an executive director and assume the role of CFO following his appointment at the 2025 AGM.

At the end of September 2024 Airtel Africa had 156.6 million customers across 14 countries in Africa.

However, the group's revenue for the first six months of the financial year retracted almost 10% on the back of currency devaluations in four key markets.

Paul's Airtel career

Paul has been the Airtel Africa CFO since May 2014 and prior to that was also CFO at Airtel Nigeria for almost four years. He also served in roles at Bharti Airtel and Bharti Retail between 2002 and 2010.

"The Board wishes to express its gratitude to Jaideep for his dedication and significant contribution to the Company during his tenure as CFO and wishes him every success in his future endeavours," the board said in a statement.  

Related:Airtel Africa revenue suffers under currency devaluations

"In his time at Airtel, both at Airtel Africa and before that at Airtel Nigeria and Bharti Airtel Group, Jaideep has been instrumental in driving strategic change and delivering results via skilled execution, and has brought discipline and focus to the finance function," added board chair Sunil Bharti Mittal.

Mittal also said that Dua was a strong successor to Paul, and the board looked forward to working with him as the business develops.

In January 2024, Airtel Africa also announced the retirement of CEO Segun Ogunsanya and the appointment of Sunil Taldar as his replacement.