Airtel Africa stated on Tuesday that Chief Executive Officer Olusegun ‘Segun’ Ogunsanya will retire on July 1, 2024, and has thus, appointed Sunil Taldar as his successor.
According to Business Day, Taldar, who joined Airtel Africa as Director Transformation in October 2023, will begin the transition to CEO with Ogunsanya.
Following the transition phase, Taldar will be appointed to the board as an executive director and will take over as CEO on July 1, 2024, when Ogunsanya will stand down from the board and retire from the firm, according to a statement from Airtel Africa.
“Airtel Africa plc today announced the retirement of the Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Segun Ogunsanya, with effect from 1 July, 2024,” the release said.
Ogunsanya, who joined Airtel in 2012, led the telecoms and mobile money company’s Nigeria operations for nine years before being named CEO of the business in 2021.
“With local knowledge of the African landscape and deep distribution experience he led the company in maintaining double-digit revenue growth over many quarters and to deliver new, innovative products to its customers across the continent,” according to the press release.
Following his retirement from Airtel Africa plc, Ogunsanya will be available for a 12-month term to advise the Chairman, the Airtel Africa Board, and the Chief Executive Officer.
Taldar was named Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer to succeed Ogunsanya when he retires.
Chairman of Airtel Africa, Sunil Bharti Mittal, said “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Segun Ogansanya 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”.
Mittal stated that Segun has consented to take up the new job of Chair of the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation following his retirement, where he would lend his visionary leadership to this new philanthropic endeavour to further Africa’s growth and prosperity.
Taldar’s industry experience, strategic vision, continual customer focus, and proven track record of execution, according to Mittal, will enable him to deliver the company’s strategic objectives and lead the group in the next stages of its development.
“During the transition period, Segun has continued to lead the business very effectively, as evidenced by our financial results. We are optimistic that we will have an orderly leadership transfer and handover of responsibility because Sunil Taldar has already joined the organization,” he said.
