Vodacom has tapped former Airtel Africa chief executive Segun Ogunsanya to join its board as an independent non-executive director. The appointment takes effect on October 9. It comes as the telecommunications group pushes ahead with its Vision 2030 growth strategy.
The appointment brings one of Africa’s most experienced telecom executives into Vodacom’s leadership structure. Ogunsanya previously led Airtel Africa from October 2021 to July 2024. Before that, he spent 12 years with the operator, including nine years overseeing its Nigerian business.
His arrival comes at a time when Vodacom is expanding its footprint in digital services and financial technology. Airtel Africa serves about 190 million customers across 14 countries. The company competes directly with Vodacom in markets such as Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique. Airtel Money also rivals M-Pesa across East Africa.
Beyond telecommunications, Ogunsanya brings experience from banking and consumer goods sectors. He previously led Coca-Cola bottling operations in Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. He also headed retail banking across 28 African countries at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated.
Ogunsanya currently chairs the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority. He also co-chaired the B20 digital transformation task force for the 2025 G20 summit in South Africa.
The executive will join Vodacom after stepping down from the board and audit committee of JSE-listed fintech firm Optasia on September 1. His appointment follows a broader board transition at the company.
Vodacom has confirmed that chairman Saki Macozoma will retire at the company’s annual general meeting on July 20, 2027. The move follows the group’s self-imposed 10-year director tenure limit. Lead independent director Khumo Shuenyane is set to succeed him from July 21, 2027.
The company also announced that Naspers South Africa CEO Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa will leave the Vodacom board on October 8 after serving for seven and three-quarter years. No reason was provided for her departure.
The leadership changes come as Vodacom continues to reshape its governance structure while pursuing long-term growth across telecommunications, digital services and financial technology.
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