SOMASEKHAR VG
Respected international business professional with 35+ years of experience in usiness and country leadership. Has a proven track record in building businesses in emerging markets in Africa, the Middle East and India. Highly skilled in building business in challenging socio, cultural, economic and political environments across startups, scale ups or transforming businesses.
A pioneer in the field of telecommunications with over 25+ years of experience and expertise in running telecom business across mobile telephony, mobile internet and mobile money in India and Africa.
In his previous assignment with Airtel Africa, has played multiple roles as Managing Director – Uganda, Executive Director – Leader Markets and Director Special Projects for M&A and has contributed to the turnaround and scaling Airtel’s business in Africa. As Managing Director of Airtel Uganda he achieved turnaround from a loss making to a profitable entity making Airtel Uganda the largest OpCo for Airtel Africa Group outside Nigeria. His career began in office automation with Modi Xerox.
He is a Commerce graduate from Madras University and Executive Education in strategy and leadership from Harvard Business School, INSEAD and Thunderbird. He is the TAB Business Owner Chennai, supporting Business Owner in achieving their vision by building a community of progressive entrepreneurs. He is currently mentoring young entrepreneurs, as a Strategic Board Advisor to MaDeIT a Tech Business incubator promoted by IIITDM Kancheepuram.
He is supporting the cause of Inclusion as a Board Member of Satya Special School Pondicherry for intellectually disabled children. An avid traveler with passion for photography, has visited as many as 32 countries across the world.