Olusegun Ogunsanya is leaving Airtel
Airtel Africa’s CEO, Olusegun Ogunsanya, will be retiring from the company on 1 July 2024, according to an announcement made by the company. Sunil Taldar will be taking over as the new CEO.
Mr. Taldar, who joined Airtel Africa in October 2023 as the Director of Transformation, will begin the transition to his new role while working alongside Mr. Ogunsanya. After a transition period, Mr. Taldar will be appointed as an Executive Director on the Board and assume the position of CEO on 1 July 2024. At that time, Mr. Ogunsanya will step down from the Board and retire from the company.
Mr. Ogunsanya has been with Airtel since 2012 and served as the CEO of the Nigeria Operations before being appointed as the Group CEO in 2021.
In recognition of his achievements as CEO, including the successful launch of the company’s first Sustainability Strategy, and his extensive experience in Africa, Mr. Ogunsanya will become the inaugural Chair of the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation. He will also be available to provide advice to the Chairman, the Airtel Africa Board, and the CEO for a period of 12 months.
“On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our gratitude to Segun Ogunsanya for his dedication and significant contributions to Airtel Africa plc as Chief Executive and previously as Managing Director and CEO of Nigeria, our largest market in Africa,” said Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Airtel Africa plc.
The appointment of Sunil Taldar as the Group’s next Chief Executive Officer brings great joy to the Board. With his extensive industry experience, strategic vision, unwavering customer focus, and proven track record of success, we are confident that he will effectively achieve our strategic objectives and lead the Group through its next phase of development,” stated the Board.
Chief Executive Segun Ogunsanya expressed his gratitude for the privilege of serving Airtel Africa for over 12 years. He takes pride in the accomplishments made for customers across Africa.
“Now is the opportune moment for me to pass the torch to a new leader who can capitalize on Airtel Africa’s strengths and seize the significant opportunities that lie ahead. As I embark on a new journey, my focus will shift towards empowering Africans through digital and financial inclusion, extending beyond the confines of for-profit organizations. This has been my aspiration after a successful career spanning over 35 years in Banking, FMCG, and Telecommunications,” he added.
