Airtel Kenya Names Djibril Tobe as New Managing Director

Airtel Kenya has appointed Djibril Tobe as its new Managing Director, succeeding Ashish Malhotra, who is leaving the company after four years to become Chief Executive Officer of Indus Towers Africa.

The appointment marks a leadership change at Kenya’s second-largest mobile network operator as competition in the telecommunications sector intensifies, particularly in mobile money, data services and broadband connectivity.

Tobe joins Airtel Kenya from Airtel Congo B, where he has served as Managing Director since May 2023. He has also held senior leadership positions within the Airtel Group, including Managing Director of Airtel Chad and Commercial Director at Airtel Burkina Faso.

Before joining Airtel, he served as Chief Executive Officer of Expresso Guinea and held management roles at Ernst & Young and Coca-Cola.

His appointment comes as Airtel Kenya continues to expand its market share in Kenya’s telecommunications sector, challenging the dominance of market leader Safaricom.

During Malhotra’s tenure, Airtel Kenya expanded its network by rolling out more than 2,000 sites, the largest infrastructure expansion in the company’s history. The operator also grew its mobile money business, with Airtel Money’s market share rising from 2 per cent to 11 per cent over the four-year period.

The company said its revenues doubled during the same period, while its subscriber base increased from 16 million to more than 24 million customers.

Malhotra also oversaw the introduction of several new products and services, including 5G connectivity, eSIM technology, fibre internet services, spam alert solutions and the Home & Office Smart Connect broadband platform.

In a statement, the Airtel Kenya board said Tobe’s appointment takes effect immediately and that he will oversee the company’s next phase of growth.

“We welcome Djibril Tobe to his role and are confident that his expertise will steer Airtel Kenya to the next level,” the board said.

The board also thanked Malhotra for his contribution to the company’s growth before his move to Indus Towers Africa.

The leadership transition comes at a time when Kenya’s telecommunications industry is witnessing increased investment in network infrastructure, digital financial services and home broadband as operators compete for market share and new revenue streams.