Telecom service provider, Airtel Uganda, has announced the planned departure of their Managing Director, Mr. Anwar Soussa.

Soussa joined Airtel Uganda in June 2016 and under his leadership, the telecom has won a number of accolades including Best performing OpCo in Africa, Best OpCo in data growth and Best OpCo in distribution excellence at the 2017 Dubai Conclave. His departure comes as a result of a personal decision to take up a new and exciting opportunity outside Airtel.

Soussa will be replaced by Mr. VG Somasekhar who is currently serving in the role of Director – Special Projects, Airtel Africa.

Somasekhar began his career in Modi Xerox and in his eleven-year tenure he held various responsibilities across many geographies in India. His career highlights include running telecoms as business with end to end P&L responsibility, rich experience of emerging markets across India, Africa and exposure to Middle East where he has managed business cycles of start-up, scale-up, transformation and mergers & acquisitions.

He is especially remembered for leading Airtel Uganda from December 2010 to February 2014, during which period he oversaw the Airtel-Warid merger – the first telecom merger in Uganda and the most successful one across Africa. He further strengthened the brand through strategic partnerships.

He holds a graduate degree in Commerce from University of Madras, Executive Education Program from Harvard Business School and Thunderbird University – Arizona.

Somasekhar is expected to continue enhancing the benefits of telecommunications services for individuals, businesses and communities in Uganda.