MultiChoice Nigeria, a leading player in the country's pay-TV and entertainment sector, has unveiled a significant change in its executive leadership. The company confirmed that Chief Executive Officer John Ugbe will retire, with Kemi Omotosho appointed to succeed him as Chief Executive Officer for Nigeria. This transition is scheduled to take effect in January 2026.
A Planned Succession for Continuity
The move is the result of a structured succession plan designed by the MultiChoice Group to ensure leadership and operational continuity. John Ugbe's departure is characterized as a planned retirement, marking the end of a notable tenure. He has led MultiChoice Nigeria for nearly 15 years, a period defined by significant evolution in consumer habits, technological advancement, and regulatory changes within the media and broadcasting industry.
Under Ugbe's leadership, the company focused on strengthening its operational foundations and adapting its business model to navigate shifting market dynamics. The handover process between the outgoing and incoming CEOs will be conducted in an orderly fashion ahead of the effective date, facilitating a smooth transfer of knowledge and maintaining stability for the company's Nigerian operations.
Meet the Incoming CEO: Kemi Omotosho
Kemi Omotosho steps into the top role bringing a wealth of experience spanning over two decades in leadership positions across media, telecommunications, and digital services in Nigeria and other Sub-Saharan African markets. Her career within the MultiChoice Group is particularly extensive.
She previously served as the Executive Head of Customer Value Management for MultiChoice Nigeria before advancing to the role of Group Executive Head of Customer Value Management for Rest of Africa. In that capacity, she managed operations across more than 50 markets. Immediately prior to her new appointment, Omotosho held the position of Regional Director for Southern Africa, where she bore full profit and loss responsibility for business activities covering seven countries.
Vision for the Future of MultiChoice Nigeria
In her new capacity, Omotosho will be tasked with overseeing MultiChoice Nigeria's overall strategy, its day-to-day operations, and crucial engagements with regulators, partners, and other stakeholders. Commenting on her appointment, Omotosho expressed her honour at leading the company.
"It is a privilege to be entrusted with the leadership of MultiChoice Nigeria at this important moment," she stated. "Nigeria remains one of the Group’s most strategic and dynamic markets. I look forward to working with our teams and partners to deepen our relationship with consumers, champion local storytelling and the creative economy as well build a future-ready organisation that delivers sustainable value."
This leadership change signals a new chapter for MultiChoice Nigeria as it continues to compete and innovate in the rapidly evolving Nigerian media and entertainment space.
