Zain’s CEO becomes CEO of the year

The Chief Executive Officer of Zain Nigeria, Mr. Bayo Ligali, has been named the 2008 Telecom Awards named CEO of the Year.

At the event held in Lagos last night, Zain, was for the fifth time in as many years recognised as Best Customer Care Operator.

Mr. Ligali was recognised for his astute leadership and outstanding contributions to the growth of Zain Nigeria and the development of telecommunications in Nigeria, as well as for being the face of the industry within a short time of coming into the telecommunications business.

According to the Board of Trustees of Telecom Awards, “his philosophy of constructive engagement with Government and lawmakers on the issue of Quality of Service led to a moratorium for operators, which has resulted in significant improvements”.

Ligali, who made headlines and drew public acclaim early this year, when he apologized to customers for poor quality of service and committed to immediate and accelerated network expansion to remedy the situation, was also honoured for “not only keeping his word, but leading his company, Zain Nigeria, to become the fastest growing with over 200% increase in base station and switches and a corresponding increase in network capacity.

The Board of Trustees of Telecom Awards praised Mr. Ligali’s leadership saying “since he took over the reins of Celtel (now Zain) a year and half ago, he has re-invigorated operations and galvanized the workforce into committing to reclaiming the top position in the telecommunications industry.

“ Zain’s active customers”, it further stated, “have increased from 5.4 million in May 2006 to over 15.5 million and the company currently ranks strong second (and contending No. 1) in the highly competitive Nigerian telecommunications market, with a vision to become number one by 2011”.

Born 52 years ago in Lagos Island, Mr. Ligali started his management career in Unilever Audit Department as an Auditor in 1979, and worked various management positions in UAC of Nigeria Plc before moving to the Foods Division as the Acting General Manager in 1991. He also held a number of senior management positions within Unilever Corporate Financial Group including Corporate Finance Manger for Latin America, Central Asia and Middle East, based in London. During the period, he was appointed to the board of UAC Nigeria Plc as a Non Executive Director.

Following his impressive performance, Ligali was appointed as the Chairman of Unilever, Malawi in 1998, a position he held until 2001 when he was given the challenge to oversee the entire East African operations of Unilever comprising Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Uganda as Chief Executive Officer.

While in Malawi, Ligali was the President of Employers Consultative Association 2000/2001 as well as a member of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Economy. Upon his appointment as CEO of Unilever East Africa in 2001, he became a Board member of Kenya Association of Manufacturers; member, Local Advisory Committee of Eastern Africa Association and a member of British Business Association of Kenya.

In 2004 he left the Unilever Group for Dangote Pasta Plc as Chief Executive Officer, from where he joined Celtel. A Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (UK) and an Associate of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Mr. Ligali joined Celtel Nigeria in October 2006.

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