Vodacom Group Alters Leadership Structure

Vodacom Group Alters Leadership Structure

In a significant move, Vodacom Group has appointed Mohamed Abdallah as the Chief Executive Officer of Vodacom International Markets and Vodafone Egypt. This decision comes following the departure of Diego Gutierrez, who stepped down from his role as Chief Officer of International Business in April.

Shameel Joosub, the Group CEO of Vodacom, expressed gratitude towards Diego Gutierrez for his invaluable contributions over the last seven years. Joosub expressed confidence that Mohamed Abdallah's expanded leadership will continue to drive success in Vodacom's International Markets.

Mohamed Abdallah, who has been the CEO of Vodafone Egypt since his joining in 1998, has delivered strong growth across Consumer, Business, and Financial Services. His passion for driving connectivity and innovation across Africa makes him a perfect fit for this new role.

Under the new structure, Mohamed Abdallah will report directly to Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub. The CEOs of Vodacom DRC, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania will report to Mohamed Abdallah, as these markets will be brought together under a single leadership framework.

Vodacom’s strategic priorities and growth plans, under Mohamed Abdallah's leadership, focus primarily on expanding financial services, accelerating mobile and fixed connectivity, and scaling digital innovation. The company is advancing its Vision 2030 strategy, which targets growing its customer base to 260 million, increasing financial services users to 120 million, and shifting 30% of revenue towards non-traditional (digital) services by 2030.

Key elements of Vodacom's strategy include:

1. Financial Services Expansion: This remains a clear priority, building on mobile money platforms like M-Pesa and VodaPay to drive financial inclusion and diversify revenue beyond traditional telecom services.
2. Accelerated Connectivity: Vodacom aims to enhance both mobile and fixed broadband networks, especially in rural and underserved areas, supported by infrastructure sharing and significant capital expenditure—over R11 billion planned annually for connectivity improvements across markets.
3. Digital and Financial Innovation: Rolling out new digital services, handset financing solutions, and expanding "Tech for Good" initiatives (such as m-mama and digital literacy programs) to deepen market engagement and address social impact.
4. Geographical and Product Diversification: Expanding partnerships and footprint across African markets including Tanzania, DRC, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Egypt, leveraging leadership under Mohamed Abdallah to consolidate growth in international markets.
5. Strategic Acquisitions: Acquisition of a 30% stake in South African fibre operator Maziv to boost fibre network expansion and bridge the digital divide, subject to regulatory approval.

These priorities reflect Vodacom’s ambition to transform from a mobile voice and data provider into a leading digital services group across Africa and its international markets, navigating regulatory and competitive challenges to achieve double-digit EBITDA growth and sustainable long-term value.

Diego Gutierrez played a crucial role in navigating transitions and delivering solid performances in Vodacom's International Markets since 2017. Abdallah, in his new role, aims to uplift communities and accelerate socio-economic development within the Africa region, with a commitment to building a more digitally inclusive future for Africa.

[1] Vodacom Group, "Vodacom Group's Vision 2030 Strategy," [Online]. Available: https://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom-group/investors/strategy-and-performance/vision-2030

[2] Vodacom Group, "Vodacom Group appoints Mohamed Abdallah as CEO of Vodacom International Markets and Vodafone Egypt," [Online]. Available: https://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom-group/news/vodacom-group-appoints-mohamed-abdallah-as-ceo-of-vodacom-international-markets-and-vodafone-egypt

[3] Vodacom Group, "Vodacom Group's 2021 Interim Results," [Online]. Available: https://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom-group/investors/results-centre/2021-interim-results

[4] Vodacom Group, "Vodacom Group's 2021 Integrated Annual Report," [Online]. Available: https://www.vodacom.co.za/vodacom-group/investors/annual-reports/2021-annual-report

1. In his new role as the CEO of Vodacom International Markets and Vodafone Egypt, Mohamed Abdallah aims to uplift communities and accelerate socio-economic development within the Africa region, with a commitment to building a more digitally inclusive future for Africa.
2. Shameel Joosub has expressed confidence that Mohamed Abdallah's expanded leadership will continue to drive success in Vodacom's International Markets, as he has demonstrated strong growth across Consumer, Business, and Financial Services.
3. Under Mohamed Abdallah's leadership, Vodacom's strategic priorities and growth plans focus primarily on expanding financial services, accelerating mobile and fixed connectivity, and scaling digital innovation.
4. The company is advancing its Vision 2030 strategy, which targets growing its customer base to 260 million, increasing financial services users to 120 million, and shifting 30% of revenue towards non-traditional (digital) services by 2030.
5. Key elements of Vodacom's strategy include financial services expansion, accelerated connectivity, digital and financial innovation, geographical and product diversification, and strategic acquisitions, such as the acquisition of a 30% stake in South African fibre operator Maziv, subject to regulatory approval.

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