Airtel Africa CEO Ogunsanya to retire, Sunil Taldar to step in

Announced this week, Ogunsanya will step down from the helm of the telco in July 2024. He will become will become the Airtel Africa Charitable Foundation’s inaugural Chair.

Sunil Taldar has been appointed as managing director and CEO to succeed Ogunsanya upon his retirement.

Ogunsanya said: “It has been a privilege to spend over 12 years of my career at Airtel Africa and I am proud of what we have delivered for customers across Africa. 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.”

Ogunsanya joined Airtel in 2012 and ran the Nigerian operations of the telecommunications company for nine years before his appointment as group CEO in 2021. Prior to Airtel, he held a number of roles at Coca-Cola.

Taldar joined Airtel Africa in October 2023 as director – transformation. He previously held several roles at parent company Bharti Airtel and positions at Mondelez and Cadbury before that.

Sunil Bharti Mittal, chairman of Airtel Africa, 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.”

He continued: “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 record of delivery will enable him to deliver our strategic objectives and to lead the group in the next stages of its development.”

Airtel’s Charitable Foundation will be a separate legal entity and be independent of the Airtel Africa Group. It will focus on promoting ‘digital inclusion, financial inclusion, access to education, and environmental protection’.

Part of Indian telco Bharti Airtel, Airtel Africa operates across 14 countries in Africa.