Vodacom has named Khumo Shuenyane, its current lead independent director, as the company’s next chair, effective 21 July 2027. He will succeed Saki Macozoma, who is set to retire after 10 years on the board, the South African telecoms operator said on Wednesday.
The company said the leadership change follows Vodacom’s self-imposed 10-year tenure limit for board members, a policy that takes effect with Macozoma’s departure.
Board changes at Vodacom extend beyond the chair role
The reshuffle is not limited to the chair position. Former Airtel Africa CEO Segun Ogunsanya has been appointed as an independent non-executive director on the board, effective 9 October 2026. Ogunsanya led Airtel Africa, one of Vodacom’s key rivals in African telecoms and mobile money, before he departed from that role.
At the same time, Phuthi Mahanyele-Dabengwa, CEO of Naspers South Africa, will step down from the board on 8 October 2026.
The company did not disclose additional details on the search process behind Shuenyane’s appointment or Ogunsanya’s recruitment, and the company has not commented on how the incoming board members’ backgrounds might shape its strategic direction going forward.
Read also: Kenya court clears Vodacom’s $1.6 billion Safaricom acquisition
The changes come as African telecom operators continue to reshuffle senior leadership across the sector, with executives increasingly moving between telecom, fintech and mobile-money businesses. Ogunsanya’s move from a rival operator’s top job to a seat on the Vodacom board is one example. However, the company has not indicated whether his appointment carries any strategic significance beyond his individual expertise.
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