Telecommunications and mobile money services provider, Airtel Africa plc, has officially announced the retirement of its Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun “Segun” Ogunsanya.
Concurrently, the company disclosed the appointment of Sunil Taldar as the incoming Chief Executive Officer. This transition is slated to occur on July 1, 2024, after 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 key responsibilities, overseeing 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.
In recognition of his impactful leadership during his tenure as CEO, 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. The foundation’s objectives will focus on digital inclusion, financial inclusion, access to education, and environmental protection.
Upon his retirement, Ogunsanya has also committed to providing advisory support to the Chairman, the Airtel Africa Board, and the Chief Executive Officer 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, citing the sustained double-digit revenue growth and innovative product offerings under his leadership. Chairman Mittal expressed confidence in Taldar’s capabilities, emphasizing his strategic vision, customer-centric approach, and proven track record of delivery as essential assets for leading the company in its next developmental stages.
Ogunsanya, reflecting on his over 12-year career at Airtel Africa, expressed pride in the positive transformations achieved for customers across the continent. As he steps into a new chapter, Ogunsanya articulated his ambition to contribute to the empowerment of Africans through digital and financial inclusion in capacities extending beyond the traditional for-profit organizational boundaries.
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