Telecom Lead Africa: Bharti Airtel Africa, as part of strengthening its leadership team, has appointed new managing directors for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Gabon.
While Louis Lubala will head Airtel’s operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Antoine Pamboro will be the new managing director for Gabon.
Luballa will enhance Airtel’s network capabilities in DRC and grow availability across the vast country.
Pambaro will build a strong data proposition for Airtel’s mobile customers in Gabon.
The elevation of two top executives is happening at a time when Airtel is investing heavily in Africa.
Airtel Africa is planning to spend $1 billion as telecom Capex during fiscal 2012-13.
Airtel Africa is also targeting revenue of $5 billion in 2012-13 from $4.14 billion in 2011-12. In 2011-12, Airtel’s Africa revenues grew 43.7 percent. Airtel Africa’s Capex during Q4 stood at $254 million against $382 million, down 33 percent.
In December 2011, Bharti Airtel has achieved more than 50 million customers in Africa, where it acquired mobile operations in 15 countries in a $10.7 billion deal in June 2010.
Both Congo and Gabon are important markets for Airtel Africa. Gabon has one of the highest teledensity statistics at over a 100 percent whilst DRC, the second largest country in Africa by area, has an approximated 25 percent penetration.
“These appointments are a clear indication of our commitment to appreciate and tap into the deep reservoir of management skills of the blue chip executive pool in Africa. Luballa and Pambaro have the requisite experience and leadership skills to successfully steer our top francophone operations,” said Tiemoko Coulibaly, CEO (Francophone Africa), Bharti Airtel.
