Airtel Africa, one of the leading telecommunications and mobile money services providers in Africa, has named Dinesh Balsingh as the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Airtel Nigeria. His appointment, effective November 1, 2024, also secures him a place on the Executive Council of Airtel Africa Group.
Balsingh succeeds Carl Cruz, who concluded his tenure at the end of October 2024 and has since returned to his home country, the Philippines.
With a career spanning over two decades in the telecommunications industry, Balsingh is no stranger to the Nigerian market. Before his appointment as the CEO of Airtel Tanzania in 2022, he served as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Airtel Nigeria, where he played a pivotal role in driving growth and market leadership.
Balsingh began his professional journey in telecommunications in 2000 with Hutchison Essar. He later joined Airtel India in 2006 as Marketing Director before moving to Tata Docomo in 2011. His association with Airtel Nigeria started in 2013 when he was appointed as Marketing Director, a position he held until his promotion to CCO in 2018.
In his most recent role as the CEO of Airtel Tanzania, Balsingh led the company to significant milestones, steering it to record growth. Under his leadership, the company leveraged intelligent pricing strategies, enhanced its product offerings, and executed projects with precision, resulting in notable gains in Revenue Market Share (RMS) in a competitive telecommunications market.
Commenting on the leadership change, Sunil Taldar, CEO of Airtel Africa, emphasized the importance of Balsingh’s expertise in advancing Airtel Nigeria’s mission. “Mr. Balsingh’s deep telecommunications experience and strong operational execution, combined with his knowledge of the Nigerian market, will be instrumental in further supporting our corporate purpose of transforming lives across Nigeria,” Taldar stated.
Balsingh holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Thiagarajar School of Management in India, adding a solid academic foundation to his extensive industry experience.
Airtel Nigeria remains a crucial market for Airtel Africa, with its operations spanning 14 countries across the continent. The appointment of Dinesh Balsingh reflects the company’s commitment to leveraging experienced leadership to enhance customer experience and drive sustainable growth in Nigeria’s fast-evolving telecommunications sector.
Balsingh’s return to Nigeria is expected to bolster Airtel’s position as a market leader, driving innovation and excellence in service delivery across the country.
