Airtel Africa Plc has announced the retirement of Segun Ogunsanya from the company and will step down as its CEO effective from 1 July 2024.
Building on the work undertaken during his time as CEO, including the launch of the company’s first sustainability strategy, and given his deep experience across Africa, Ogunsanya will become the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation’s inaugural Chair.
The Charitable Foundation which will be a separate legal entity and be independent of the Airtel Africa Group will accelerate the company’s commitment to its sustainability initiatives and charitable operations across its locations in Africa. The foundation’s objectives will focus on promoting digital inclusion, financial inclusion, access to education, and environmental protection.
“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,” said Sunil Bharti Mittal, Chairman of Airtel Africa Plc, on behalf of the Airtel Africa board. “Segun will retire from the board with our best wishes and sincere appreciation for everything he has achieved.”
Bharti on behalf of the board thanked Ogansanya for his commitment and significant contribution to Airtel Africa plc as its CEO and before that as Managing Director and CEO of Nigeria, our largest market in Africa.
Following his retirement from Airtel Africa plc, Ogunsanya will be available to advise the Chairman, the Airtel Africa Board, and the Chief Executive Officer for 12 months.
The company has appointed Sunil Taldar to succeed Ogunsanya. Taldar, who joined Airtel Africa in October 2023 as Director of transformation, will begin transitioning to the CEO role, working alongside Ogunsanya.
“The board is delighted to appoint Sunil Taldar as the Group’s next Chief Executive Officer,” said Bharti. “His industry experience, strategic vision, constant customer focus, and proven record of delivery will enable him to deliver our strategic objectives and to lead the Group in the next stages of its development.”
Following a transition period, Taldar will be appointed to the Board as an Executive Director and assume the role of CEO effective 1 July 2024, and at that time, Ogunsanya will officially step down from the board and the role of Airtel Africa CEO and retire from the company.
Bharti said “For 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.”
Ogunsanya in his remarks said it was a privilege to spend over 12 years of his career at Airtel Africa and was proud of what they as a company have delivered for customers across Africa.
“We continue to transform lives. Now is the right time for me to hand over to a new leader who can build on Airtel Africa’s strengths and deliver on the significant opportunities ahead as I pursue my renewed interest in the empowerment of Africans through digital and financial inclusion in a different capacity beyond the boundaries of for-profit organizations,” remarked Ogunsanya. “This has been my ambition after a successful career spanning over 35 years in Banking, FMCG, and Telecommunications.”
Ogunsanya joined Airtel in 2012 and ran the Nigeria Operations of the Telecommunications and Mobile Money Company for nine years before he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Group 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 delivering new, innovative products to its customers across the continent.
