Airtel Kenya has appointed Djibril Tobe as its new Managing Director, replacing Ashish Malhotra, who will leave the company to become Chief Executive Officer of Indus Towers Africa, the telecommunications operator said Tuesday.
Tobe, a telecommunications executive with more than two decades of experience across African markets, joins the Kenyan business after serving as Managing Director of Airtel Congo B since May 2023. His career spans leadership roles in telecoms, consumer goods and consulting, including positions at Airtel Chad, Airtel Burkina Faso, Expresso Guinea, Ernst & Young and Coca-Cola.
The appointment comes as Airtel Kenya seeks to sustain growth momentum built during Malhotra’s four-year tenure, a period marked by aggressive network expansion and a stronger push into digital financial services.
Under Malhotra’s leadership, Airtel Kenya rolled out more than 2,000 network sites in what the company described as the largest infrastructure expansion in its history. Airtel Money also expanded its footprint, increasing market share to 11% from 2%, while the operator doubled revenue and grew its subscriber base to more than 24 million customers from 16 million.
The company also introduced several technology and connectivity offerings during the period, including 5G services, eSIM technology, fiber connectivity products and broadband solutions aimed at homes and businesses.
Airtel Kenya’s board said it expects Tobe to lead the company through its next phase of growth, innovation and customer-focused transformation as competition intensifies in Kenya’s telecommunications sector.