Airtel Africa Plc has named Sunil Taldar as the next Managing Director/CEO, disclosing the retirement of incumbent Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun “Segun” Ogunsanya, who is due to retire effective July 1, 2024.
Ogunsanya, who joined Airtel in 2012 and led the Nigeria Operations for nine years before becoming Group CEO in 2021, played a pivotal role in maintaining double-digit revenue growth and introducing innovative products across the African continent.
Building on his achievements as CEO, including the launch of the company’s first Sustainability Strategy, Ogunsanya will assume the role of the inaugural Chair of the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation. The foundation, a separate legal entity independent of the Airtel Africa Group, will focus on digital inclusion, financial inclusion, access to education, and environmental protection.
Upon his retirement, Ogunsanya will provide advisory support to the Chairman, the Airtel Africa Board, and the CEO for a 12-month period. Simultaneously, Airtel Africa announced the appointment of Sunil Taldar as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer to succeed Ogunsanya. Taldar, who joined Airtel Africa in October 2023 as Director – Transformation, will begin the transition to the CEO role alongside Ogunsanya. Following a transition period, Taldar will be appointed to the Board as an Executive Director and assume the role of CEO on July 1, 2024. At that time, Ogunsanya will step down from the Board and retire from the Company.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Segun Ogansanya for his commitment and significant contribution to Airtel Africa plc as Chief Executive and before that as Managing Director and CEO of Nigeria, our largest market in Africa.
“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.
“The Board is delighted to appoint Sunil Taldar as the Group’s next Chief Executive Officer. His industry experience, strategic vision, constant customer focus and proven record of delivery will enable him to deliver our strategic objectives and to lead the Group in the next stages of its development.
In respect of the transition period, Segun continues to lead the business very effectively as seen in our financial results. Given that Sunil Taldar has already joined the Group, we are confident that we will have an orderly leadership transition and handover of responsibilities.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman, Airtel Africa plc
It has been a privilege to spend over 12 years of my career at Airtel Africa and I am proud of what we have delivered for customers across Africa.
We continue to transform lives. Now is the right time for me to handover to a new leader who can build on Airtel Africa’s strengths and deliver on the significant opportunities ahead as I pursue my renewed interest in the empowerment of Africans through digital and financial inclusion in a different capacity beyond the boundaries of for-profit organizations. This has been my ambition after a successful career spanning over 35 years in Banking, FMCG and Telecommunications”.
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