Kemi Omotosho Succeeds John Ugbe as CEO of MultiChoice Nigeria
MultiChoice Nigeria has confirmed the appointment of Kemi Omotosho as its chief executive officer, effective January 2026, ushering in a significant shift for one of Africa’s largest broadcast and digital entertainment brands.
Her appointment follows the retirement of John Ugbe, who led the company for nearly fifteen years and presided over major milestones in subscriber growth, technological innovation, and market expansion.
Omotosho steps into the role with more than two decades of experience spanning media, telecommunications, and digital services across Nigeria and the wider sub-Saharan region. Her track record reflects a consistent focus on operational efficiency, customer engagement, and strategic development in challenging and highly competitive environments.
What to expect under her leadership
MultiChoice says she will direct the company’s overall vision and operations while managing relationships with regulators, industry partners, and other critical stakeholders. A key part of her mandate includes strengthening local content production and accelerating the growth of Nigeria’s creative sector, which remains central to the company’s long-term strategy.
Speaking on her appointment, Omotosho described the opportunity as both an honor and a responsibility. She noted that Nigeria remains one of the Group’s most important markets and expressed her commitment to deepening consumer trust, elevating local storytelling, and building a forward-looking organization that delivers sustainable value.
Career profile
Omotosho is not new to the MultiChoice Group. Over the years, she has held several top-level positions, including executive head of customer value management in Nigeria and later group executive head of customer value management for the Rest of Africa. In these capacities, she guided strategic initiatives across more than fifty markets.
Her leadership contributed to reduced customer churn, increased adoption of digital platforms, and improved revenue performance. She was also responsible for streamlining internal operations through agile project frameworks, stronger program oversight, and cross-market knowledge-sharing systems.
Most recently, she served as regional director for Southern Africa, overseeing seven countries with full financial accountability. This role strengthened her reputation as a leader who can manage large teams, balance operational demands, and drive long-term growth.
Her professional journey began in customer service and operations at Computer Systems Associates and later expanded at Airtel Nigeria, where she handled enterprise client management, postpaid customer retention, and revenue optimization.
Educational background
Omotosho holds an Executive MBA from Lagos Business School, Pan-Atlantic University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the Nigerian Institute of Management. She earned her first degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin.
Her emergence as CEO highlights MultiChoice Nigeria’s focus on strong leadership, operational discipline, and deeper connection to the domestic market. As competition in the media and entertainment sector intensifies, her stewardship is expected to shape the next phase of the country’s digital content landscape.
