Airtel Africa Plc, a leading telecommunications and mobile money services provider, has officially announced the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer, Segun Ogunsanya. Concurrently, the company has disclosed the appointment of Sunil Taldar as the incoming Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1, 2024, following a transition period during which Taldar will join the Board as an Executive Director.

Sunil Taldar, who assumed the role of Director – Transformation at Airtel Africa in October 2023, has been entrusted with overseeing key strategic initiatives aimed at transforming the company’s business and operations. With over 30 years of experience in business management within the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) and Telecommunications sectors, Taldar brings extensive expertise, including a 15-year tenure as a member of the Bharti Airtel Management Board.

Ogunsanya will transition to a new role as the inaugural Chair of the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation. This foundation, endowed with a separate legal identity, aims to accelerate the company’s commitment to sustainability initiatives and charitable operations across its African locations, focusing on digital inclusion, financial inclusion, access to education, and environmental protection.

Upon his retirement, Ogunsanya will provide advisory support for a 12-month period, showcasing a seamless leadership transition.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Airtel Africa Plc, expressed gratitude to Ogunsanya for his significant contributions and expressed confidence in Taldar’s capabilities, citing his strategic vision and customer-centric approach as essential assets for leading the company in its next developmental stages. “In respect of 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”, Bharti Mittal said.

Ogunsanya, reflecting on his over 12-year career at Airtel Africa, expressed pride in the positive transformations achieved for customers across the continent. He was the Managing Director of Airtel Nigeria, between 2012 and 2021, before moving up to the Airtel Africa CEO role in October 2021, as the first African to occupy the position.