Airtel Africa Welcomes New CEO Following Segun Ogunsanya’s Retirement
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In a recent development, Airtel Africa has appointed a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the wake of Segun Ogunsanya‘s retirement as they have announced.
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Segun Ogunsanya
Airtel Africa Plc has made public the forthcoming retirement of Segun Ogunsanya from his role as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), set to take effect on July 1, 2024.
On Tuesday, the telecommunications company announced that Sunil Taldar will take over as the new Managing Director and CEO, succeeding Ogunsanya.
Airtel Africa Reports that Ogunsanya, who became part of the company in 2012, led the telecommunications and mobile money operations in Nigeria for a remarkable nine years. In recognition of his contributions, he assumed the role of CEO for the entire Airtel Africa Group in 2021.
After retiring, Ogunsanya, as per the company’s announcement, will remain accessible to guide the chairman, the Airtel Africa board, and the CEO for 12 months.
As highlighted in the statement made by Airtel Africa PLC, Ogunsanya leveraged his profound understanding of the African terrain and extensive distribution expertise and guided the company to consistently achieve double-digit revenue growth for numerous quarters. Under his leadership, the company successfully introduced innovative products to meet the diverse needs of its customers across the continent.
Expanding on his accomplishments during his tenure as CEO, which notably included the introduction of the company’s initial sustainability strategy, Mr. Ogunsanya will now take on the role of the first chairperson for the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation. With his extensive expertise in the African context, he is poised to guide the foundation in its charitable initiatives.
According to the company, The Charitable Foundation aims to speed up the company’s efforts towards sustainability and expand its charitable activities across various locations in Africa.
The Charitable Foundation aims to prioritize and advance digital inclusion, financial inclusion, accessible education, and environmental protection as these are its primary objectives.
The Charitable Foundation will also function as its distinct legal entity and operate independently from the Airtel Africa Group.
New CEO Transition Announced by Company: Taldar Takes on Leadership Role After Joining Airtel Africa in October 2023
Airtel Africa has officially shared that Taldar, who initially joined the company in October 2023 as “director-transformation,” is set to assume the role of CEO. The transition process will involve Taldar working closely with Ogunsanya during this significant shift in leadership.
“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 step down from the board and retire from the company,” Airtel Africa added.
Sunil Mittal, the chairman of Airtel Africa Plc, expressed his appreciation for the dedication and substantial contributions of Mr. Ogunsanya to the company. Mittal acknowledged Ogunsanya’s commitment, recognizing the positive impact it has had on the company’s development and progress.
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“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,” Mittal said. “The board is delighted to appoint Taldar as the Group’s next CEO. His industry experience, strategic vision, constant customer focus, and proven record of delivery will enable him to deliver our strategic objectives and lead the Group in the next stages of its development. “Concerning 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.”
Ogunsanya expressed his gratitude for the 12 years spent in his career at Airtel Africa, describing it as a privilege. He anticipates embarking on a new chapter focused on advancing the empowerment of Africans, particularly through initiatives centered around digital and financial inclusion.
