Bharti Airtel, a leading telecommunications services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, today announced the appointment of Mr. Ben Cheick Haidara, as Managing Director for Airtel in Burkina Faso. The appointment will take effect from August 1, 2014.
Mr. Haidara will lead Airtel’s operations in Burkina Faso and support the government’s telecommunications agenda in the country. Key parts of the role will be broadening financial services for the various communities through mobile commerce (Airtel money), extending access to the fast growing data service network and focusing on the organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility agenda. Airtel currently has the widest 3G and mobile commerce telco footprint across Africa; and is committed to engage in a more robust CSR agenda across the continent.
Speaking on the appointment, Airtel Africa CEO Mr. Christian de Faria said: “Ben is a respected telecoms professional with proven leadership capabilities in Africa. I would like to warmly welcome him on behalf of the entire Airtel family. I also wish to recognize and sincerely thank Mr. Hachimou Hassane for his valuable contribution to the business during the period he has been acting as Managing Director in Burkina Faso.”
Ben holds a Master’s degree in Management science from the Institut de MSG and a post graduate degree in Accounting & Finance from the Institut de DESS – University of Ouagadougou, an executive MBA – Management Operations from HEC Paris, France. Before Etisalat Benin, Ben worked as Finance Director for Telecel Burkina Faso between October 2000 and July 2006, then became Finance Director at Atlantic Telecom Gabon from July 2006 to February 2007, took up the Managing Director role at Telecel Burkina Faso in February 2007 , was Managing Director Prestige Telecom in Ivory Coast between March and September 2008, and later became the Managing Director at Atlantique Telecom in Niger from October 2008 to August 2011.
