Airtel Africa Appoints Carl Cruz as New CEO of Nigerian Subsidiary

Airtel Africa Plc, a major telecommunications and mobile money services provider, has appointed Mr Carl Cruz as the new chief executive of its Nigerian subsidiary, Airtel Networks Limited. The appointment, which takes effect from May 5, 2023, was announced through a statement by the telco, and Mr Cruz succeeds Mr C Surendran in the role.

Airtel Africa currently operates in 14 African countries, with Nigeria being its largest market. Mr Cruz will now serve as the Regional Operating Director and join the Executive Committee, reporting to Airtel Africa's CEO, Mr Segun Ogunsanya. Interestingly, Mr Ogunsanya previously held the position of Regional Operating Director before assuming the CEO role for the parent company.

Mr Segun Ogunsanya who once held the position spoke on Mr Cruz’s appointment saying :

“Mr. Cruz brings to Airtel Africa a wealth of business experience, exceptional track record and strong values. He has a solid record of accomplishment as a strategic and transformational business leader who thrives on problem-solving and building strong teams to deliver business growth. We look forward to working with him to steer our largest region and to deliver on our corporate purpose of transforming lives.”

But Who is Carl Cruz?

As the Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Unilever in West Africa, Mr. Cruz was responsible for overseeing three listed operating companies in Nigeria, Ghana, and Francophone Africa.

In addition to serving as an Executive Director on the board of Unilever Nigeria Plc and as a Non-Executive Director on the board of Unilever Ghana, he also held leadership roles in Unilever Philippines and Hindustan Unilever India. Notably, he also served as the Chairman and Managing Director of Unilever Sri Lanka.

Throughout his career, Mr. Cruz has demonstrated his expertise in managing strategic and directional responsibilities in various areas, including sales, distribution, customer and brand development, trade development, and commercial engagement. He earned a Bachelor's degree in Marketing Management from the University of De La Salle, Philippines.

Mr. Cruz possesses a vast amount of business and corporate experience, spanning over 31 years and obtained from various regions across Africa and Asia.

Airtel Africa has appointed Mr Carl Cruz as the new CEO of its Nigerian subsidiary, Airtel Networks Limited. Mr Cruz brings over 31 years of business and corporate experience, having previously served as the CEO and Managing Director of Unilever in West Africa. He will report to Airtel Africa's CEO, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, and will join the Executive Committee as the Regional Operating Director. Airtel Africa operates in 14 African countries, with Nigeria being its largest market.