Vodacom appoints telecom veteran Ayman Essam to drive external affairs strategy

Vodacom Group appoints Ayman Essam, a 20-year telecom veteran, as Chief Officer: External Affairs. Essam will lead external affairs strategy across eight African markets.

Ayman Essam, newly appointed Chief Officer: External Affairs at Vodacom Group, is set to drive regulatory engagement and stakeholder strategy across Africa.

By Nhlanhla Muthe

Vodacom Group has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Ayman Essam as Chief Officer: External Affairs, effective 1 October 2025.

With over two decades of telecom experience and a proven track record in regulatory and government engagement, Essam is set to drive Vodacom’s external affairs strategy across eight African markets, reinforcing the company’s reputation as a trusted partner for governments, regulators, and communities.

Essam succeeds Stephen Chege, who will return to Kenya to take up the role of Group Chief External Affairs Officer at Safaricom. In his new role, Africa’s second-largest mobile telecoms operator, with over 200 million subscribers, announced that Essam will report directly to Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub and join the Group Executive Committee.

"We are delighted to welcome Ayman to the Vodacom Group Executive Committee. His deep sector knowledge and proven leadership make him the ideal candidate to strengthen our external affairs efforts across Africa. Ayman's appointment underscores our commitment to constructive engagement with stakeholders as we continue to deliver on our purpose of connecting for a better future," said Joosub.

Essam brings over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications sector, having joined Vodafone Egypt in 2001. He has played a pivotal role in shaping Vodafone Egypt’s legal and regulatory frameworks and led teams across legal affairs, regulatory engagement, external communications, government relations, corporate security, sustainability, and the Vodafone Foundation.

Under his leadership, Vodafone Egypt enhanced its reputation as a trusted partner to governments, regulators, and communities while emerging as one of the standout performers within the Vodacom portfolio. The experienced executive’s expertise in regulatory affairs, stakeholder engagement, and corporate governance positions him to add significant value to Vodacom Group across Africa.

Joosub also acknowledged Chege’s contributions over the years.

"Stephen (Chege) has played an important role in shaping Vodacom's reputation and external affairs agenda, and we wish him every success in his new role at Safaricom," he said.

The telco's CEO underlined that Essam’s appointment signals a strategic move for Vodacom that reinforces its commitment to stakeholder engagement, digital inclusion, and sustainable growth. “With Essam at the helm of external affairs, Vodacom is poised to deepen relationships with regulators and governments, navigate Africa’s complex telecom landscape, and continue leading the continent in connectivity and innovation,” said Joosub.