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Kamal Okba is heading back to AXIAN Group, this time stepping into the role of chief operating officer at AXIAN Telecom. The pan-African conglomerate announced the appointment as it pushes deeper into its regional growth agenda, pulling one of its most seasoned operators into a group-level strategy role.
Okba is no stranger to the AXIAN ecosystem. He previously served as chief executive officer of Tigo Tanzania, where he delivered double-digit revenue growth, before moving to lead Free au Senegal as CEO from July 2024. His elevation to COO signals a deliberate consolidation of operational experience at the center of the business.
With more than 25 years in telecommunications and roughly 15 of those in CEO positions across multiple African markets, Okba has built a career few executives on the continent can match. His track record spans Airtel Gabon, Millicom's Tigo Chad, Mauritel and Maroc Telecom, stretching across West, Central and East Africa.
AXIAN Group has a direct footprint in more than 10 African countries, reaching upward of 300 million people. Through AXIAN Investissement, its indirect presence extends to 30 African countries, with the group focused on advancing digital, financial and energy inclusion across the continent.
On the brand side, AXIAN Telecom has been scoring notable wins. Yas, its unified pan-African brand launched in November 2024, entered the Brand Finance Telecoms 150 2026 ranking with a brand value of $277 million. It also debuted among the top 20 strongest telecom brands globally, posting a Brand Strength Index score of 84.8 out of 100. Brand Finance named it the 2026 "Brand to Watch," citing its ambition to become Africa's trusted digital ally as a key driver of that performance.
Okba's appointment as COO puts a tested operator at the wheel of that momentum. AXIAN Telecom has made digital inclusion a defining part of its identity across Madagascar, Senegal, Togo, Tanzania, Comoros and beyond. Scaling those ambitions across a growing footprint requires the kind of operational depth Okba has spent decades building, and his return to the group level is a clear bet on exactly that.
