Airtel Africa’s chief executive officer is retiring this year after more than a decade with the telecommunications company, the business announced Wednesday.
CEO Segun Ogunsanya will step down effective July 1, 2024, ending a 12-year career at Airtel Africa. Ogunsanya joined the company in 2012 to lead operations in Nigeria, Airtel’s largest market in Africa. He was appointed CEO of the entire group in 2021.
“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,” Ogunsanya said in the statement. “We continue to transform lives.”
Ogunsanya cited a desire to empower Africans through digital and financial inclusion as motivation to retire from Airtel Africa. He will become the inaugural chair of the newly created Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation after leaving his CEO role.
The foundation will “accelerate the Company’s commitment to its sustainability initiatives and charitable operations across its locations in Africa,” according to the statement. It aims to promote digital inclusion, financial inclusion, education access and environmental protection on the continent.
Airtel announced current company director Sunil Taldar as Ogunsanya’s successor. Taldar joined Airtel Africa in October 2023 and will begin transitioning to the CEO position before fully assuming the role July 1. He will also join the company’s board as an executive director at that time.
Airtel Africa Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal praised Ogunsanya’s “significant contribution” and welcomed the leadership change.
“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.
Mittal expressed confidence Taldar’s industry experience and strategic vision make him the right choice as the next CEO.
The transition period has already begun, according to the statement. Ogunsanya will work alongside Taldar and remain CEO until his retirement.
“Given that Sunil Taldar has already joined the Group, we are confident that we will have an orderly leadership transition and handover of responsibilities,” Mittal said.
Airtel Africa is headquartered in London but operates across 14 African countries. Ogunsanya oversaw the company maintaining double-digit revenue growth for multiple financial quarters as CEO.
He also led development of new products for African customers. Ogunsanya previously worked in banking and consumer goods before joining Airtel.
