Vodacom Group has appointed Segun Ogunsanya, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, as an independent non-executive director. The appointment, which takes effect on October 9, 2026, was announced in a filing with the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in compliance with JSE Listings Requirements.
Ogunsanya’s transition to the Vodacom board follows a formal fit and proper assessment required under JSE rules. The board expressed full satisfaction with the outcome of the assessment, welcoming his extensive leadership experience across the continent.
Board Restructuring at Vodacom
The appointment of Ogunsanya coincides with a broader leadership transition at the telecommunications group. Current chairman Saki Macozoma, who has served on the board since July 2017, will officially retire at the annual general meeting on July 20, 2027, having reached the company's 10-year board tenure limit.
Khumo Shuenyane, the current lead independent director, will succeed Macozoma as chairman on July 21, 2027. Additionally, Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa will retire from her role as chairman of the Remuneration Committee and board member on October 8, 2026, after serving since January 1, 2019.
Clive Thomson will assume the role of chairman of the Remuneration Committee on October 9, 2026. Thomson will also retain his current position as the chairman of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee.
Ogunsanya’s Corporate Track Record
Ogunsanya retired from his role as Airtel Africa CEO in June 2024, after leading the FTSE 100-listed telecommunications firm across 14 African countries. He brings over 35 years of executive experience spanning telecom, banking, and fast-moving consumer goods.
He currently serves as the chairman of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority and is a board member of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group. His previous roles include Managing Director of the Nigerian Bottling Company, CEO of Coca-Cola Sabco in Kenya, and General Manager of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Ghana.
In the financial sector, Ogunsanya previously worked as Group Head at Ecobank Transnational, where he managed retail banking operations across 28 African countries.
Airtel and Vodacom Strategic Ties
The appointment comes just over a year after Airtel Africa and Vodacom Group signed a strategic infrastructure-sharing agreement in August 2025. The partnership covers network operations in Mozambique, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Under this agreement, both operators share fibre networks and tower infrastructure to accelerate high-speed internet rollout in underserved areas. The arrangement aims to optimize existing infrastructure, reduce duplication, and lower network deployment costs across these markets.
Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel has continued to consolidate its control over Airtel Africa. On June 22, 2026, Bharti Airtel acquired a 16.35% stake in Airtel Africa from Indian Continent Investment Limited, raising its direct shareholding to 79.22% from 62.32%.
