Former Airtel Africa CEO Segun Ogunsanya Joins Vodacom Board

By Adedapo Adesanya

Vodacom Group has appointed former chief executive of Airtel Africa Plc, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, as an independent non-executive director.

The appointment follows planned changes to the company’s board, including the retirement of chairman, Mr Saki Macozoma and the departure of director, Mrs Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa.

Vodacom disclosed the board changes in a filing with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), saying Mr Ogunsanya’s appointment will take effect on October 9, 2026, following the completion of a fit and proper assessment required under the JSE Listings Requirements.

Mr Ogunsanya retired as the chief executive of Airtel Africa in June 2024 after leading the telecommunications company across 14 African countries. He has more than 35 years of leadership experience spanning telecommunications, finance, banking and fast-moving consumer goods.

He currently chairs the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and serves on the board of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG).

Before leading Airtel Africa, Mr Ogunsanya was managing director of the Nigerian Bottling Company, CEO of Coca-Cola Sabco in Kenya, general manager of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Ghana and a group head at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, where he oversaw retail banking across 28 African countries.

Meanwhile, Mr Macozoma, who has served on Vodacom’s board since July 2017, will retire at the company’s annual general meeting on July 20, 2027, having reached the company’s self-imposed 10-year board tenure limit.

Vodacom’s current lead independent director, Mr Khumo Shuenyane, will succeed Mr Macozoma as chairman from July 21, 2027.

Also, Mr Clive Thomson will assume the role of chairman of the remuneration committee from October 9, 2026, while retaining his position as chairman of the audit, risk and compliance committee.