Airtel Kenya announced the appointment of Djibril Tobe as its new Managing Director, effective July 1, 2026. The Senegalese executive brings over two decades of experience in telecommunications, fast-moving consumer goods, and consulting across multiple African markets.

Tobe succeeds Ashish Malhotra, who led Airtel Kenya through a period of rapid expansion, growing the subscriber base from 16 million to more than 24 million and significantly increasing the company’s revenues and network infrastructure.

Professional Background

Djibril Tobe began his career as a financial auditor at Ernst & Young in Senegal in the mid-1990s before moving into the consumer goods sector. He played key roles in sales growth and product launches, including new Fanta flavours and the Spriteball initiative. From 2002 to 2005, he managed operations at Equatorial Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Ghana.

Transitioning to telecommunications in 2006, Tobe joined Celtel Burkina Faso as Commercial Director. He then served as CEO of Expresso Guinea from 2006 to 2016. Subsequently, he was Managing Director of Airtel Chad, where he transformed the business into the market leader. In May 2023, he took over as Managing Director of Airtel Congo Brazzaville, achieving a notable market share increase.

His achievements earned him the Airtel Africa CEO’s Special Award and the Best Team Trophy at the 2026 Airtel Africa Leadership Conclave. Academically, Tobe holds a business management degree from ISG Paris and completed the INSEAD International Directors Programme, acquiring a Corporate Governance certificate.

Future Outlook for Airtel Kenya

Under Malhotra, Airtel Kenya expanded its subscriber base, doubled revenues, and grew Airtel Money’s market share from 2% to 11%. Despite this progress, Airtel still trails market leader Safaricom, which commands nearly 69% of mobile subscriptions and 89% of mobile money transactions.

Since taking charge, Tobe has swiftly introduced innovative initiatives, including a pilot for a satellite-to-phone mobile service leveraging SpaceX’s satellite network, pending regulatory approval. This technology will allow continuous Airtel connectivity even outside traditional network coverage.

Additionally, he launched the 'Business Wallet', aiming to enhance Airtel Kenya’s digital financial services portfolio and deepen engagement with business customers.

The Airtel Kenya board expressed strong confidence in Tobe’s leadership to guide the company through its next growth phase, focusing on innovation and market relevance.