As the telecom prepares for its next stage of growth, Airtel Kenya has announced the appointment of a new managing director, Ashish Malhotra, who will start on July 1, 2022, to succeed long-serving MD Prasanta Das Sarma. As of June 30, 2022, Mr. Prasanta Das Sarma, who has held the job since January 2017, will transition to a new position as CEO of the Fiber Company for Airtel Africa.
Mr. Ashish Malhotra previously served as Group Head of Sales and Marketing at Airtel Africa, where he oversaw the division’s operations in 14 nations. In this capacity, he helped the various nations develop strong distinctive selling propositions, streamline pricing systems, and double revenues.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce from Sri Ram College of Commerce in India and an MBA from Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS), both in India.
Malhotra has worked in the telecom industry for more than 21 years.
According to Airtel, he was instrumental in the company’s rapid expansion in Kenya and helped push the customer base from 5 million to 16 million during his time there.
14 African nations are served by Airtel Africa, predominantly in East, Central, and West Africa.
According to market research firm Media, it is Kenya’s second-largest operator with a market share of approximately 25%, after dominating Safaricom, which has a market share of about 67%.
Airtel Kenya New MD’s Journey Into Telecommunications
Mr. Ashish Malhotra began his career in telecommunications over 21 years. He started this journey as a product manager with BPL Moblie in August 2000 where he carried out this duty for a span of four years and 5 months.
While serving as a product manager for BPL Mobile, he took up another role as the head of marketing for BPL Mobile Cellular Ltd (which is now known as Vodafone Essar), he commenced this role in 2003 alongside his role as a product manager for BPL mobile.
After serving in this duo role for a year, he gave up his role as a product manager for BPL mobile in November 2004 and carried on a sole duty as the head of Marketing for BPL Mobile Cellular Ltd up until 2006.
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This makes it a total of three years served as the head of marketing for BPL Mobile Cellular Ltd. He also serves as a Marketing Manager for HUTCH-Kerala from December 2005 through August 2006.
Ashish Malhotra’s Entrance Into Airtel Networks Limited
With over six years of experience in telecommunications, Mr. Ashish Malhotra began another journey with Airtel. This was immediately after his nine-months appointment with HUTCH-Kerala. His first appointment was in India where he served as the Deputy General Manager for marketing on a prepaid appointment. His managerial role covered Airtel Maharashtra and Goa.
He serves in this position for two years and eight months. After the end of his appointment in Airtel-Maharashtra and Goa, he took up another role the next month as the head of marketing – TN circle for Tata Docomo. He served Tata Docomo for three years and 10 months before his appointment ended in January 2013.
February 2013 began a new phase of his career as he began professional engagement in Africa with Airtel-Ghana. After serving as the Vice President of the director of marketing in Airtel Ghana for a year, his service extended to Airtel Africa as a role.
He began operations with Airtel Africa in Kenya as the Group VP in the head of Usage and Retention in February 2014 where he served till September 2015 for a total period of one year and nine months. He took up another appointment shortly afterward as the Chief Marketing Officer, a role he served for five years and a month from October 2015 to October 2020.
He became the head of sales and marketing for Airtel Africa from October 2022 through July 2022. After a commendable service as the Head of Sales and Marketing for Airtel Africa, the telecom was glad to announce his promotion to Managing Director for Airtel Kenya. It jas been a worthwhile journey of 21 years into telecommunications.
His skills include telecommunications, team management, cross-functional team leadership, product management, business development, leadership, management, customer lifecycle management, VAS, marketing, product marketing, key account management, competitive analysis, strategy, go-to-market strategy, brand management, Marketing manager, B2B marketing, retail marketing and a host of other related skills.
Airtel Kenya ALso Announces A New Chairman
To jointly manage the company’s next stage of expansion, the Board of Airtel Networks Kenya Limited chose Louis Onyango Otieno as Chairman and Ashish Malhotra as Managing Director.
With more than 30 years of ICT expertise in both the private and public sectors, Louis Onyango Otieno is a member of many powerful boards. The chairman of Absa Asset Management Limited is Mr. Otieno. Additionally, he serves as a non-executive independent director for Nation Media Group Plc and Absa Bank Kenya Plc.