Africell’s Angola business to be led by Christopher Lundh, a senior telecoms executive with a thirty-year career managing successful telecommunications operations in emerging markets

Africell Group is pleased to announce the appointment of Christopher Lundh as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Africell Angola. Under Mr. Lundh’s leadership, Africell will deliver on its promise to transform the Angolan telecoms sector by providing affordable, reliable and high-quality mobile telecommunications services to millions of consumers.

Christopher Lundh joins Africell after five years as a Managing Director and Chief Commercial Officer of Afghan Wireless. Previously, he held senior leadership roles at companies including Telecel Congo, Africa Online, and Gateway Communications. Mr. Lundh has extensive experience in the African telecoms sector, and during his career he has worked in over 15 countries and territories across the continent – including Kenya and South Africa most recently. Mr. Lundh is a US citizen, a native of Laguna Beach, California, and a graduate of the Thunderbird School of Global Management.

Speaking at a press conference in Luanda alongside Angola’s minister of telecommunications H.E. Manuel Homem and US Ambassador to Angola, H.E. Nina Maria Fite, and following an audience with the President of Angola, H.E. João Lourenço, Christopher Lundh said: “I am delighted to be joining Africell as the company prepares to launch mobile services in Angola. Africell has a track record of raising network standards, reducing prices, and introducing technology innovation across Africa. Angola is a country of extraordinary potential, and we believe that Africell can help unlock this potential by supporting the creativity and enterprise of the Angolan people with our mobile services. With a team of skilled local employees, I look forward to growing the Africell brand in Angola and earning the trust and affection of millions of Angolan consumers”.

In February 2021, Africell won an international public tender process for a universal electronic communications license in Angola in an historic move driven by the Angolan government’s desire to reform and accelerate Angola’s economy. Africell’s expansion into Angola is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the Group, for the Angolan telecoms sector, and for Angolan consumers who stand to benefit from more competition and innovation.

Africell is a US-owned company. In May 2021, Africell amended and restated a $100 million investment from the US Government’s Development Finance Corporation (DFC) in a partnership reflecting the US government’s strategic goal to deepen US investment in Africa. Africell is the only US-owned mobile communication operator in Africa and is the first to receive financing from DFC.

Commenting on Mr. Lundh’s appointment, Africell Group’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ziad Dalloul, said: “Christopher Lundh’s appointment as CEO of Africell Angola is a major milestone for Africell. His knowledge and experience of running successful telecoms operations in Africa and beyond give him a unique appreciation of the opportunity Africell has to transform the Angolan telecoms sector. Christopher’s objective is to build on the success of Africell’s other operations in Africa and to focus at all times on affordability, reliability and innovation. Africell intends to hire thousands of local employees in the next five years, and we look forward to announcing further progress updates soon”.

Also present at the press conference was Ambassador J. Peter Pham, non-executive director of Africell Group’s board, former US special envoy to the Sahel and Great Lakes regions of Africa, and Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council think tank.