MD and CEO of Airtel Nigeria, Olusegun Ogunsanya has been named new MD and CEO of Airtel Africa to replace Raghunath Mandava who is set for retirement September 30, 2021.
A statement from Bharti Airtel said Segun Ogunsanya will join the Board of Airtel Africa with effect from October 1, 2021.
The statement also named Chief Financial Officer of the company, Jaideep Paul has also bee appointed as an Executive Director who would join the Board of Directors with effect from June 1, 2021.
Segun Ogunsanya joined Airtel Africa in 2012 as Managing Director and CEO Nigeria and has been responsible for the overall management of the telco’s largest market in Africa.
He comes with over 25 years of business management experience in banking, consumer goods, and telecoms.
In April 2016, he was named CEO of Airtel Ghana in addition to his role as CEO of Airtel Nigeria and the then Airtel Ghana Managing Director, Lucy Quist reported to him.
Before joining Airtel, Segun Ogunsanya held senior managerial roles at beverage maker Coca-Cola in Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya. He was the MD of Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd owned by Coca-Cola Hellenic, and was the group head of retail banking operations at Ecobank Transnational Inc., where he oversaw 28 countries in Africa.
“Raghu Mandava will be retiring…on September 30, 2021. Arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities…Mr. Mandava will be available to advise the Chairman, the Airtel Africa Board and the MD and CEO for a 9-month period,” the telco said in a statement.
Chairman of the Bharti Airtel Group, Sunil Bharti Mittal said “We are delighted to appoint Segun Ogunsanya as the Group’s next Chief Executive Officer. He has displayed significant drive and energy in turning around the Nigeria business by focusing on network modernization, distribution, and operational efficiency,”
He also thanked Raghu Mandava for being instrumental in successfully leading and transforming Airtel Africa into a powerhouse telecommunications and mobile money company, adding that “as we look forward to Segun assuming his new role in October 2021, we do so from a position of great strength as a result of Raghu’s highly effective stewardship.”
Meanwhile, Segun Ogunsanya said he looks forward to taking up the Airtel Africa top job with excite, and he believes this is an opportunity for him to position Airtel Africa for further success in a dynamic continent full of potential.
On his part, Raghu Mandava said “Having been at Bharti Airtel for 13 years and at Airtel Africa for 5 years as Chief Executive Officer, I feel now is the right time to take a sabbatical. The last five years have been an exhilarating journey where we have been able to do a turnaround and transform the business into strong high growth and profitable company.”
Meanwhile, the telco said it will name Segun’s successor as Managing Director and CEO Nigeria soon.
Bharti Airtel and Millicom recently sold their merged operator in Ghana, AirtelTigo to the Ghanaian government for a reported US$1 due to heavy liabilities, as they exit the country.
Ghana’s Minister for Communications and Digitization however announced Airtel might be back into the Ghanaian market at a later date.
Airtel shares were 0.15% down at 543.50 rupees last week on the Bombay Stock Exchange.
