In a strategic leadership move aimed at unifying operations and accelerating regional growth, Vodacom Group has appointed Mohamed Abdallah as Chief Executive Officer of its International Markets portfolio, in addition to his existing role as CEO of Vodafone Egypt. The appointment is described by the Group as a “key milestone in Vodacom’s ongoing efforts to simplify its operating model, drive strategic growth and enhance customer experiences.”
Abdallah will now take on executive oversight of Vodacom’s operations across multiple African countries, including Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Tanzania. The Group said this consolidated leadership structure is designed to improve operational efficiency, streamline decision-making, and deliver on strategic priorities across the continent.
“Under this expanded structure, he will oversee operations in Egypt as well as additional African markets including operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Mozambique and Tanzania, unifying these markets under a single leadership framework to deliver on Vodacom Group’s strategic priorities,” Vodacom said in a statement.
A veteran of the telecoms industry, Abdallah brings nearly three decades of experience to the role. He joined Vodafone Egypt 27 years ago and has served in various senior roles, including Enterprise Business Director and Consumer Business Director. His tenure as CEO of Vodafone Egypt has been marked by significant growth across consumer, business and financial services, further reinforcing the operator’s leadership position in the market.
“As CEO of Vodafone Egypt, he has delivered strong growth across consumer, business and financial services,” the company affirmed.
He succeeds Diego Gutierrez, who stepped down in April 2025 after a seven-year tenure as Vodacom’s Chief Officer of International Business. The leadership handover comes at a time when Vodacom is accelerating its ambitions on the continent, with a strong focus on digital and financial inclusion.
As outlined in its annual financial results published this week for the year ended March 2025, Vodacom Group now boasts 211.3 million customers, a 4% increase from the previous year. This includes 87.7 million financial services customers, counting Safaricom on a 100% basis. The Group has set a bold target to grow its customer base to 260 million by 2030.
With Abdallah at the helm of its international portfolio, Vodacom is positioning itself to tap into new growth opportunities across its markets. The integrated leadership strategy is expected to deliver synergies across its operations while supporting the Group’s broader Vision 2025 agenda focused on connectivity, financial services, and digital transformation.
