Kemi Omotosho Appointed CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria as John Ugbe Takes a Bow After Nearly 15 Years

MultiChoice Nigeria has announced a major leadership transition with Chief Executive Officer John Ugbe set to retire after nearly 15 years at the helm, and Kemi Omotosho named as his successor, effective January 2026. The company said the change follows a structured succession process aimed at ensuring leadership continuity as Nigeria’s pay-TV and digital entertainment market continues to evolve.

Ugbe’s tenure spanned a period of significant transformation marked by shifting consumer behaviour, rapid technological disruption and an increasingly complex regulatory environment. Under his leadership, MultiChoice expanded its service offerings and reinforced its operational framework to remain competitive in Nigeria, one of the group’s most strategic markets.

The timing of Omotosho’s appointment comes against the backdrop of recent challenges within the media ecosystem. Concerns had earlier emerged over MultiChoice’s channel lineup, including the potential removal of 11 major DStv channels following stalled distribution negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery. That uncertainty was eased by a last-minute multi-year agreement with Canal+ and Warner Bros. Discovery, which ensured the retention of key content on the platform. These developments underscore the intricate commercial and contractual landscape the incoming CEO will inherit.

Omotosho brings more than 20 years of leadership experience across media, telecommunications and digital services. Within the MultiChoice Group, she has held senior roles including Executive Head of Customer Value Management in Nigeria and Group Executive Head of Customer Value Management for Rest of Africa, overseeing operations in more than 50 markets. Before her appointment in Nigeria, she served as Regional Director for Southern Africa, with full profit-and-loss responsibility for seven countries.

Her elevation highlights MultiChoice’s emphasis on internal leadership development and the preservation of institutional knowledge, a critical asset in an industry where regional insight and regulatory navigation are key to success. At a time when many organisations favour external appointments, the decision signals a strategic preference for continuity over disruption.

For investors and industry observers, the transition offers insight into how succession planning is maturing within Africa’s media and telecoms sector. Unlike abrupt or externally driven leadership changes seen elsewhere, MultiChoice’s orderly handover points to deliberate planning and organisational foresight. This may be viewed as a positive indicator of resilience as traditional pay-TV operators contend with streaming platforms and rapidly changing viewing habits.

Omotosho’s background in customer strategy aligns with the company’s broader push to deepen consumer engagement and adapt to digital consumption trends in a market experiencing both growth in streaming services and heightened competition from global players.

In her new role, Omotosho will be responsible for setting strategic direction, overseeing daily operations, and managing relationships with regulators, partners and other stakeholders. She has outlined plans to strengthen engagement with consumers, champion local storytelling and support Nigeria’s creative economy, while building a future-ready organisation focused on sustainable value creation.

As MultiChoice navigates a fast-changing media landscape, balancing content demands, platform competition and regulatory engagement, the leadership transition comes at a pivotal moment. With the handover planned ahead of January 2026, the company is positioning itself to build on Ugbe’s legacy while leveraging Omotosho’s regional experience to continue serving Nigeria’s diverse entertainment market.