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    John Ugbe Takes a Bow as MultiChoice Nigeria Names Kemi Omotosho CEO

    MultiChoice Nigeria has appointed Kemi Omotosho as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 2026, in a move widely seen as strategic positioning in the wake of the Group’s recent acquisition and a rapidly evolving Nigerian media landscape.
    ‎Omotosho succeeds John Ugbe, who will retire after nearly 15 years of steering the Nigerian operation through periods of expansion, digital transformation, and market leadership. Ugbe’s tenure was marked by sustained growth, product innovation, and the deepening of MultiChoice’s footprint across Nigeria’s pay-TV and digital entertainment ecosystem.
    ‎Her appointment comes at a defining moment for the company, as MultiChoice recalibrates its operations, priorities, and growth strategy under new ownership. For industry watchers, the choice of Omotosho signals continuity, local market confidence, and a deliberate focus on operational discipline and customer-centric growth rather than disruption.
    ‎With more than two decades of experience across media, telecommunications, and digital businesses in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa, Omotosho brings deep institutional knowledge of the MultiChoice Group and a track record in managing complex, multi-market operations. Her career has been shaped by expertise in customer value management, revenue optimisation, and large-scale business transformation, capabilities seen as critical as the company navigates heightened competition, pricing sensitivities, and changing consumer behaviours in Nigeria.
    ‎In her new role, Omotosho will oversee MultiChoice Nigeria’s overall strategy, daily operations, and engagement with regulators, partners, and key stakeholders. She is also expected to play a central role in strengthening local content development and supporting Nigeria’s creative economy, an area likely to take on even greater importance as the company aligns local relevance with broader group objectives following the acquisition.
    ‎“It is a privilege to be entrusted with the leadership of MultiChoice Nigeria at this important moment,” Omotosho said. “Nigeria remains one of the Group’s most strategic markets. I look forward to working with our teams and partners to deepen our relationship with consumers, champion local storytelling and the creative economy, and build a future-ready organisation that delivers sustainable value.”
    ‎A seasoned executive within the Group, Omotosho previously served as Executive Head of Customer Value Management in Nigeria before assuming the role at a continental level, providing functional leadership across more than 50 markets. In these roles, she led initiatives focused on reducing churn, accelerating digital adoption, and improving average revenue per user. She also spearheaded key transformation programmes, including agile project management frameworks and cross-market governance structures.
    ‎Most recently, she served as Regional Director for Southern Africa, managing a seven-country portfolio with full profit-and-loss responsibility, further reinforcing her reputation as a results-driven leader with strong execution capability.
    ‎Her career began in customer service and operations at Computer Systems Associates and later expanded at Airtel Nigeria, where she held leadership roles spanning postpaid retention, enterprise account management, and revenue optimisation.
    ‎Omotosho holds an Executive MBA from Lagos Business School, a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the Nigerian Institute of Management, and a BSc in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin.
    ‎For the Nigerian market, Omotosho’s appointment suggests a measured but decisive phase ahead for MultiChoice, one focused on efficiency, deeper consumer engagement, strengthened local content pipelines, and regulatory alignment. As Nigeria consolidates its position as a leading hub for African entertainment and digital creativity, her leadership is expected to play a key role in shaping how the company balances global ownership priorities with local market realities.

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