The Safaricom-Global Partnership for Ethiopia has appointed former Airtel Uganda chief executive officer Anwar Soussa as the Managing Director of the Operating Company in Ethiopia. Soussa served as chief executive officer Airtel Uganda from June 2016 to September 2017.
Anwar and his predecessor, Tom Gutjahr who run Airtel Uganda between 2014 and 2016, are credited for consolidating Airtel’s merger with Warid Telecom and growing turnover from UGX722 billion in 2014 to nearly UGX1.16 trillion at the end of 2017.
Airtel Uganda would reverse its sticky loss-making streak to become profitable (UGX160 billion profit in 2016 and UGX245 billion in 2017.
In his new position as MD, Anwar will be responsible for the consortium Global Partnership’s goal to enhance Ethiopia’s digital transformation.
“He will be responsible for execution of the consortium’s goal to bring about transformational economic and social impact in Ethiopia and positively enhance the lives of its over 112 million people,” Safaricom says in a statement, adding: “He will formulate strategies and plans to ensure delivery of quality and affordable mobile and internet connectivity enabling millions more Ethiopians to access quality telecom services.”
Uganda’s Corporate Finance and Capital Markets Luminary, Miriam Ekirapa Musaali, Passes OnUntil now, Anwar Soussa has been Managing Director for Vodacom Congo and the Chairperson of Vodacash (M-PESA), a position he has held since September 2017.
Before joining Vodacom, Soussa had worked at Airtel first as Chief executive officer Airtel Chad from May 2015 to June 2016, then chief executive officer Airtel Uganda from June 2016 to September 2017.
Soussa served as Chief Operation Officer for MTN based in Cyprus from March 2013 to April 2015, having prior served as Commercial Director Digicel from 2012 to 2013 based in Papua New Guinea.
Anwar, a Greek national, holds a Master of Science in Business administration and Management from Concordia University and a Bachelor of Science in Business administration and Management from American College of Greece.
