Barthi Airtel, a global communications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, on Wednesday announced senior-level organisational changes within its Africa operation.
Under the changes, Manoj Kohli, Managing Director and CEO (International) in-charge of Airtel’s operations in Africa, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, will relocate to India effective 1 January, 2014.
Kohli, currently based at Airtel’s Africa headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, has successfully led the company’s foray into Africa over the past three years.
According to Barthi Airtel, he has also successfully completed the integration and transformation of Airtel’s operations in Africa and more recently integrated the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka businesses with the international operations.
Kohli has also led the implementation of business model changes, institutionalised the Airtel DNA and established key stakeholder and government relationships in Africa.
Meanwhile, Christian de Faria will join Airtel Africa starting 16 September 2013 and will immediately take charge of Anglophone operations.
He will commence a comprehensive orientation encompassing Airtel Africa headquarters functions, Francophone and Nigeria Regions before assuming overall responsibility as CEO-Airtel Africa from 1 January, 2014.
Bharti Airtel Chairman Sunil Bharti Mittal, said: “We have built a strong foundation for the next phase of growth of our Africa operations and are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.
“Manoj has successfully embedded our business model and the Airtel brand in Africa, and will now provide governance oversight to the international operations and be involved with the group strategic matters.”
For the last seven year, de Faria was associated with MTN where he held senior leadership positions, including Executive Vice President responsible for the operations for West and Central Africa Region and later as Group Commercial Officer for two years until January 2013.
As CEO of Airtel Africa, de Faria will be responsible for providing overall leadership for the African operations.
