2nd January, 2024
Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa plc, Olusegun Ogunsanya is set to retire from the company from 1 July.
But it will not be a total departure as he will head the company’s charitable foundation and also serve as an adviser to the chairman for 12 months
The company announced the retirement today in a notice to the Nigerian Exchange, while also disclosing the appointment of Sunil
Taldar, as Ogunsanya’s successor, effective 1 July.
Taldar joined Airtel Africa in October 2023 as Director – Transformation.
Following a transition period, Mr. Taldar will be appointed to the Board as an Executive Director and assume the role of CEO on 1 July 2024, at which time Ogunsanya will retire from
the Board and the Company.
As Director – Transformation, Mr. Taldar holds responsibility for leading and overseeing key
strategic initiatives aimed at transforming Airtel Africa’s business and operations.
He has more than 30 years’ business management experience in the FMCG and Telecommunications
sectors, including 15 years’ experience as a member of various Management Boards including
Bharti Airtel, where he was Director, Market Operations, Cadbury China and Mondelez India and
Indonesia.
Building on the work undertaken during his time as CEO, including the launch of the Company’s
first Sustainability Strategy, and given his deep experience across Africa including running Airtel
Africa’s Nigeria telecommunications and mobile money operations in Nigeria, Mr. Ogunsanya will
become the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation’s inaugural Chair.
The Charitable Foundation will accelerate the Company’s commitment to its Airtel Africa plc, a leading provider of telecommunications and
mobile money services, with a presence in 14 countries across Africa, today announces the
retirement of 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 have its own separate legal personality and be independent of the Airtel Africa Group.
Following his retirement from Airtel Africa, Mr. Ogunsanya will also be available to advise the
Chairman, the Airtel Africa Board and Chief Executive Officer for a 12-month period.
Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Airtel Africa plc said: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Segun Ogunsanya 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. Under Segun’s leadership, Airtel Africa has maintained double-digit revenue growth and continued to deliver new, industry-leading products to our customers across 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.”
Segun Ogunsanya, Chief Executive said: “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 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”.