Jobs/Appointments
Ex-MTN Nigeria CEO Becomes Smile Telecoms Group CEO
By Dipo Olowookere
Pan-African telecommunications group with operations in Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Smile Telecoms, has announced the appointments of Mr Ahmad Farroukh as its Group Chief Executive Officer and Ms Irene Charnley as Deputy Chairman, respectively, effective June 1, 2019.
Mr Farroukh, who currently serves as Smile’s Group Executive Director Operations, is a seasoned and experienced telecoms executive with a distinguished record of commercial and operational success.
His vast experience extends to executive management positions at Investcom Holdings and the MTN Group (where he served as CEO of MTN Nigeria, MTN South Africa and Group Chief Operating Executive, responsible for 19 countries) and immediately prior to joining Smile, as CEO of Mobily, Saudi Arabia’s second largest telecommunications operator.
Given the extent of the opportunity and the significance to Smile, Ahmad will spend the majority of his executive time in Nigeria.
Hailed as one of Africa’s most successful business leaders, Smile Telecoms founder and shareholder, Ms Irene Charnley has led the company’s innovation and pioneering of Africa’s first 4G LTE network infrastructure, using low band spectrum in 800MHz band, thereby revolutionizing the way people in Africa accessed high speed internet.
After 12 years at the helm, Ms. Charnley will now serve as Deputy Chairman for the Company and will fulfil a strategic role.
Commenting on the announcement, Mohammed Sharbatly, Smile’s Co-Chairman and Group CEO of Smile’s majority shareholder, Al Nahla Group of KSA, said “The Africa telecoms market is as dynamic as it is challenging, and Ahmad is suited to lead Smile’s next exciting phase of growth, as we have transitioned from a spectrum rich upstart to the fastest, most reliable data gigabyte factory in Sub-Sahara Africa.
“We are equally delighted that Irene will continue to serve the company she founded as Deputy Chair, and we look forward to her ongoing strategic direction and guidance.”
“The next phase for Smile will focus on delivering excellent operational returns, achieving profitability and creating value for all stakeholders, and I believe that Ahmed is best suited to lead the Company forward in this regard”, added Irene Charnley.
“Africa is experiencing explosive data growth, and I am honoured to have the opportunity to lead the operations of one of the continent’s best 4G LTE networks at this exciting time. It has also been a revelation after over 20 years in the industry to witness the power and versatility of Smile’s proprietary technology applications platform, which was developed in-house and provides a huge competitive and cost advantage,” concluded Ahmad Farroukh.
Jobs/Appointments
Tinubu Nominates ex-SEC DG Lamido Yuguda as CBN Deputy Governor
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The immediate past Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Mr Lamido Yuguda, has been nominated as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The nomination was made by President Bola Tinubu, according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
His name would be sent to the Senate for confirmation in compliance with a section of the Central Bank of Nigeria Act, 2007.
He is replacing Mr Bala Bello, who was recently appointed as the Special Adviser to the President on Political Economy.
Mr Lamido was in charge of the apex capital market regulatory body in Nigeria from 2020 to 2024. He was replaced by Mr Emomotimi Agama.
He is an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, where he graduated in 1983 with a B.Sc. in Accountancy. In 1991, he obtained a master’s degree in Money, Banking and Finance from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and a CFA charterholder.
The nominee began his career in 1984 at the CBN as a Senior Supervisor in the Foreign Operations Department.
He also worked as an economist in the Africa Department of the International Monetary Fund from 1997 to 2001, when he returned to the CBN. He retired from the CBN in 2016, after serving as Director of the Reserve Management Department for six years.
President Tinubu has charged Mr Yuguda and his predecessor to discharge their responsibilities with renewed dedication, professionalism, and commitment to Nigeria’s economic stability and growth, in their respective roles.
Jobs/Appointments
Nigerian Breweries’ Thibaut Boidin Emerges Beer Sectoral Group Chairman
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The chief executive of Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr Thibaut Boidin, has been appointed as the chairman of the Beer Sectoral Group (BSG) of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
In his new role, Mr Boidin will collaborate closely with the board of CEOs to provide strategic leadership for the group to advance critical industry priorities, including shaping sustainable category growth, advocating for commercial freedom through balanced and growth-oriented fiscal policies, and strengthening the differentiation and long-term competitiveness of beer within Nigeria’s beverages market.
He succeeds Mr Carlos Coutino. His appointment, according to a statement, became effective Thursday, March 5, 2026.
Mr Boidin brings extensive international leadership experience across nine countries to the BSG Chairmanship. He joined the HEINEKEN Group in 2017 as Deputy Managing Director of France Boissons (HEINEKEN largest integrated Distributor) and went to on to hold Chief Transformation Officer roles in HENIKEN France and HEINEKEN Europe.
Most recently, he served as Managing Director of HEINEKEN Romania, one of the group’s largest operations in Eastern Europe, before being appointed the chief executive of Nigerian Breweries Plc.
Prior to joining HEINEKEN, Mr Boidin served as an officer in the French Armed Forces across various continents, before transitioning to the corporate sector where he held senior executive and Managing Director roles at leading French organisations, including Elis and Veolia.
“I am honoured by the confidence reposed in me by my industry peers. With over three million jobs in the value chain, the beer sector has a critical role to play in Nigeria’s manufacturing and economic ecosystem through investment, local value creation, responsible consumption, and sustainable contribution to government revenue.
“As Chairman of the Beer Sectoral Group, my focus is to work closely with MAN, government and stakeholders to unlock category growth, enable fair competition, and support a predictable fiscal environment in which legitimate manufacturers can thrive,” Mr Boidin commented on his appointment.
Jobs/Appointments
IGP Disu Chooses Anthony Okon Placid as New Police Spokesman
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Mr Anthony Okon Placid has been appointed as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), replacing Mr Benjamin Hundeyin.
Mr Placid, a Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), was chosen for the position by the new Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr Tunji Disu.
In a statement on Sunday by Mr Hundeyin, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), his successor was described as “a seasoned officer of the Nigeria Police Force with extensive experience in administration, operations, intelligence, training, and international peacekeeping.”
The 55-year-old police officer was born on December 2, 1970, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Geography and Regional Planning from the University of Uyo.
The indigene of Mbiokporo Nsit in the Nsit Ibom Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State also holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) from the University of Jos and studied Law at the National Open University of Nigeria for a Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
He was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force as a Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police at the Police Academy, Kano, in 1996, and was commissioned in August 1998.
He has attended several professional and international courses, including United Nations Peace Operations Specialised Training (POST), with certifications as an expert in Police Studies, Military Studies, Gender Awareness, International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights, and Civilian Protection. UNITAR Senior Leadership and Peacebuilding course in Kenya.
Mr Placid has served in various strategic capacities within and outside the country, including Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adamawa State; PPRO, Police Staff College, Jos; Chief of Training, African Union Mission in Sudan; Head of Training and Development, United Nations Mission in Darfur; Divisional Police Officer in Federal Housing Calabar, Bakassi, Uruan, and Gembu; Officer-in-Charge, Anti-Robbery Unit, Kaduna State; African Union Election Security Adviser; Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) in Akwa Ibom and Kogi States; Assistant Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Department, Abia State; and Deputy in charge of Administration and Finance, Zone 3 Headquarters, Yola.
He is also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), Commonwealth Human Rights Trainer and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Trainer on International Humanitarian Law. He is a graduate of the Senior Executive Course (SEC 47) of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, and was inducted as a Member of the National Institute (mni) on December 13, 2025, prior to his redeployment to Cross River State.
The new police spokesman, who can be reached via 07031179186, is happily married with children. His hobbies include listening to good music, playing football, basketball, table tennis, badminton, and engaging with people.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn







