Multichoice Nigeria Appoints Kemi Omotosho as New CEO, Ushering in a New Era of Leadership
In a significant leadership transition, Multichoice Nigeria has announced the appointment of Kemi Omotosho as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective January 2026. She takes over the helm from John Ugbe, who is retiring after a nearly 15-year tenure at the forefront of one of Africa’s leading entertainment companies. The appointment, which follows a structured succession process, signals a new chapter for the pay-TV giant as it navigates a rapidly evolving media landscape under the new ownership of the French group Canal+. Omotosho’s extensive experience within the Multichoice Group across multiple African markets positions her as a leader tasked with deepening consumer relationships and championing Nigeria’s creative economy.
According to reports from The Cable and Business Post Nigeria, Omotosho brings over two decades of leadership experience spanning media, telecommunications, and digital services across Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. Her career within the Multichoice ecosystem has been marked by progressively senior roles, including Executive Head of Customer Value Management in Nigeria and Group Executive Head of Customer Value Management for Rest of Africa, where she provided functional leadership across more than 50 markets. Her most recent position was Regional Director for Southern Africa, where she held full profit and loss responsibility for a portfolio of seven countries.
The Foundation: John Ugbe’s Legacy and a Structured Transition
The outgoing CEO, John Ugbe, leaves behind a legacy of steady leadership during a period of profound industry change. His nearly 15-year tenure saw Multichoice Nigeria navigate major shifts in consumer behavior, technology, and regulation. Ugbe is credited with strengthening the company’s operational foundations and enhancing its long-term resilience, ensuring its position as a dominant player in the Nigerian pay-TV and entertainment sector. The company has emphasized that his departure is a planned retirement, marking the culmination of an orderly and structured transition designed to ensure continuity and stability for the business.
This transition is particularly noteworthy as it occurs in the wake of Canal+’s takeover of the South African Multichoice Group. The French media conglomerate has been implementing changes across key markets, making the leadership of Multichoice Nigeria a critical role for the group’s strategy on the continent. The seamless handover from Ugbe to Omotosho is seen as a move to maintain operational momentum while potentially steering the company in new strategic directions aligned with its new ownership.
“Nigeria remains one of the Group’s most strategic and dynamic markets,” Omotosho said in a statement upon her appointment. “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.”
Kemi Omotosho’s Vision for a Future-Ready Multichoice Nigeria
Kemi Omotosho steps into the CEO role with a clear mandate to build upon the foundation laid by her predecessor while adapting to new market realities. The company’s official statement highlights her strong track record in leading complex organizations, driving disciplined growth, and building high-performing teams. In her new capacity, she will be responsible for overseeing Multichoice Nigeria’s overall strategy, day-to-day operations, and critical stakeholder engagement with regulators, partners, and the creative community.
Her public comments suggest a focus on several key pillars: deepening direct consumer relationships in a competitive market, doubling down on local content and storytelling to fuel Nigeria’s creative economy, and future-proofing the organization. This last point is crucial as the media industry globally contends with the rise of global streaming platforms, changing content consumption habits, and the need for technological innovation. Omotosho’s background in customer value management and regional P&L leadership will be tested as she balances these strategic priorities.
Multichoice described Ugbe’s exit as “a planned retirement rather than a sudden departure,” noting that he led the business “through major industry and market shifts, strengthening its operational foundations and long-term resilience.”
The success of this leadership transition will be closely watched by industry analysts and stakeholders. Omotosho’s deep internal knowledge of the Multichoice Group’s operations across Africa provides a significant advantage. However, the challenges are substantial. She must steer Multichoice Nigeria through the integration with Canal+, fend off competition from both local and international digital streaming services, and continue to monetize a consumer base that is increasingly diverse in its preferences and spending power. For more in-depth analysis on Nigerian business leadership and market trends, follow the latest updates on Africanewsdesk.net’s Nigeria News.
The appointment of Kemi Omotosho represents more than just a change in personnel; it symbolizes a potential shift in focus for Multichoice Nigeria. With a leader whose experience spans customer value, multi-country operations, and strategic growth, the company is signaling its intent to be more agile, consumer-centric, and embedded in the local creative ecosystem. As she assumes her role in January 2026, the industry will be keen to see how her vision translates into strategy and whether she can successfully guide the entertainment behemoth through its next phase of growth in Africa’s most populous nation.
