CMC Networks, Africa’s premier networking provider and a subsidiary of center3, has appointed Mahesh Jaishankar as its new Managing Director.
This move aims to accelerate the company’s drive to expand AI-powered connectivity across Africa and the Middle East. Having worked with Google, Arthur D. Little, and du, Jaishankar has over 25 years of experience creating and growing digital infrastructure companies.
Center3’s acquisition of CMC Networks in June 2024, which increased the company’s footprint in emerging markets, preceded his hiring.
AI-driven connectivity expansion in Africa
CMC Networks intends to expand its AI-powered connection solutions under Jaishankar’s direction. With 62 markets across Africa and the Middle East, the company already provides services like dedicated internet access, MPLS, SD-WAN, Ethernet, satellite, and Infrastructure-as-a-Service.
To ensure dependable and robust service delivery, Artificial Intelligence for IT Operations (AIOps) has already contributed to a 38% reduction in network mean time to repair.
Jaishankar stated, “Together with our customers and partners, we will accelerate growth, unlock new opportunities, and deliver the intelligent, scalable connectivity solutions that Africa and the Middle East need to thrive in the digital era”.
Leadership backed by global expertise
Jaishankar’s previous positions include consultancy work at Arthur D. Little and Head of Strategic Negotiations at Google. Additionally, he was instrumental in establishing Datamena at Du, a global digital centre for carriers, companies, OTT platforms, and hyperscalers.
Fahad Alhajeri, CEO of center3 and chairman of CMC Networks, highlighted Jaishankar’s unique combination of global enterprise insight and regional entrepreneurship experience as ideal for leading the company’s next chapter.
“His deep expertise with hyperscalers, carriers, and enterprises, coupled with a proven track record of establishing regional platforms with global relevance, makes him ideally suited to lead CMC Networks into its next growth phase,” Alhajeri said.
With an engineering degree and an MBA, Jaishankar continues to actively support innovation and entrepreneurship in the region as a charter member of TiE Dubai. His direction represents a significant advancement for CMC Networks in using AI to improve connectivity across the Middle East and Africa.