Vodacom appoints former Airtel Africa CEO Segun Ogunsanya to board

Vodacom Group has appointed Segun Ogunsanya, the former chief executive officer of Airtel Africa, to its board as the telecommunications company strengthens its leadership team to drive its Vision 2030 strategy.

Ogunsanya will join the Vodacom board as an independent non-executive director on October 9, 2026. His appointment brings more than 35 years of senior leadership experience across finance, banking, telecommunications and corporate governance to the pan-African telecoms group.

Ogunsanya served as Group CEO and Managing Director of Airtel Africa PLC until his retirement in July 2024, having led the FTSE 100-listed telecommunications company across 14 African markets.

Before joining Airtel Africa, he held senior leadership positions at major multinational companies, including Coca-Cola’s African operations and Ecobank Transnational.

His appointment comes as Vodacom accelerates its transformation from a traditional mobile network operator into a pan-African technology company.

The group has increasingly expanded its focus beyond mobile connectivity, with international operations, its stake in Safaricom and financial services emerging as key drivers of its growth strategy. The shift forms part of the company’s broader Vision 2030 ambitions.

Vodacom chairman Saki Macozoma to retire

Vodacom also confirmed that Saki Macozoma will retire as chairman of the board at the company’s annual general meeting on July 20, 2027.

Macozoma joined the board in July 2017 and will retire in line with Vodacom’s 10-year limit for board members. The company credited him with guiding the business through a significant period of transformation, including the implementation of its Vision 2025 strategy and the foundations for Vision 2030.

He will be succeeded by Khumo Shuenyane, the current lead independent director, who will become chairman on July 21, 2027.

Further changes to Vodacom board

The board changes will also include the departure of Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, currently CEO of Naspers South Africa. She will leave the Vodacom board and step down from the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee on October 8, 2026.

Clive Thomson, the former CEO of Barloworld, will become chairman of the Remuneration Committee from October 8, 2026, while retaining his position as chairman of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee.

Vodacom said further committee changes would be announced by the board in due course.

The key changes to the Vodacom board will see Segun Ogunsanya, the former CEO of Airtel Africa, join as an independent non-executive director on October 9, 2026. Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers South Africa, will retire from the board and leave the Remuneration and Nomination Committees on October 8, 2026. Clive Thomson, the former CEO of Barloworld, will become chairman of the Remuneration Committee from October 8, 2026, while retaining his chairmanship of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee. Saki Macozoma, the current chairman of Vodacom Group, will retire from the board on July 20, 2027, after which Khumo Shuenyane, the current lead independent director, will assume the chairmanship on July 21, 2027.