Vodacom adds former Airtel Africa CEO Segun Ogunsanya as the group prepares for wider board changes
Vodacom Group has appointed former Airtel Africa Group CEO Segun Ogunsanya as an independent non-executive director, strengthening its board with an executive who has more than three decades of experience across telecommunications, banking, finance and consumer goods.
Ogusanya will join Vodacom’s board on 9th October 2026, following the retirement of Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa a day earlier. He will bring more than 35 years of leadership experience spanning finance, banking, fast-moving consumer goods, telecommunications and corporate governance. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering from the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, and an honorary Doctor of Science in computer science education from Tai Solarin University of Education.
He served as Group CEO and Managing Director of Airtel Africa PLC until his retirement in June 2024. During his career, he also held senior leadership positions at Nigerian Bottling Company, Coca-Cola Sabco in Kenya, Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Ghana and Ecobank Transnational Inc., where he oversaw retail operations across 28 African countries
Currently, he also chairs the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) and sits on the board of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group. He is also a fellow of several professional institutions, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and the Institute of Directors (Nigeria).
Vodacom said its board has completed the required fit and proper assessment under the JSE Listing Requirements and was satisfied with the results. Meanwhile, Mahanyele-Dabengwa will leave the board after serving since January 2019. She chaired the Remuneration Committee and served on the Nomination Committee.
Vodacom is also preparing for a leadership transition at board level. Chairman Saki Macozoma will retire at the company’s annual general meeting on 20 July 2027, after which Lead Independent Director Khumo Shuenyane will become chairman. The transition follows Vodacom’s self-imposed 10-year limit on board tenure.
From 9 October 2026, Clive Thomson will chair the Remuneration Committee while retaining his role as chairman of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee. Vodacom said additional committee changes will be announced later.
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