Airtel Africa plc recently announced the retirement of its chief executive officer, Olusegun “Segun” Ogunsanya, effective from July 1, 2024. Furthermore, the company named Sunil Taldar as managing director and chief executive officer to succeed Mr. Ogunsanya upon his retirement.
Taldar, who joined Airtel Africa in October 2023 as the transformation director, will transition to the CEO role while working alongside Ogunsanya.
The company noted that Taldar will assume the CEO role and be appointed as an executive director on the board from July 1, 2024.
In a press statement, the Chairman of Airtel Africa plc, Sunil Bharti Mittal, expressed gratitude to Segun Ogunsanya for his commitment and significant contributions to the company as chief executive and previously as managing director and CEO of Nigeria, their largest market in Africa.
Mittal said, “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. Segun will retire from the board with our best wishes and sincere appreciation for everything he has achieved.
“The Board is delighted to appoint Sunil Taldar as the Group’s next chief executive officer. His industry experience, strategic vision, constant customer focus and proven delivery record will enable him to deliver our strategic objectives and lead the Group in the following stages of its development.
“Regarding the transition period, Segun leads 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.”
Earlier, Ogunsanya had expressed his gratitude to the management of Airtel Africa for allowing him to transform lives over 12 years of his career at the company.