• Cell C has appointed a new chief of staff in Rachael Ayo-Oladejo, a former Vodacom executive.
• She joins the team being assembled by new CEO Jorge Mendes, himself a former Vodacom leader.
• Cell C has been making several crucial changes as of late in the hopes of righting its ship, including appointing a former MTN CEO to its board of directors.

Next in a series of high-level appointments for telco Cell C will see a brand new chief of staff taking the helm.

According to a press release sent to Hypertext, Cell C’s new CEO Jorge Mendes has appointed Rachael Ayo-Oladejo (pictured above) to the position. She will oversee staff, strategy and business transformation for the embattled telco.

Cell C has in the span of just over 15 days made several high-level hires. Its new CEO, Mendes, was appointed on 15th June. A former Vodacom veteran, Mendes’ key insights into marketing and finances seem to have been the ticket for the top gig.

A day before that, Cell C saw Godfrey Motsa, a former chief executive of rival MTN, and businesswomen Maya Makanjee installed on its board of directors.

Today, Cell C has drawn another Vodacom veteran to its C-suite, with Ayo-Oladejo.

“Cell C is pleased to announce Rachael Ayo-Oladejo as the newly appointed Chief of Staff, Strategy and Business Transformation, reporting directly to CEO Jorge Mendes. With over 17 years of invaluable experience in the telecommunications industry, she brings a wealth of expertise to the executive team,” the telco explains.

Previously, Ayo-Oladejo served at Airtel Nigeria, one of the West African nation’s biggest telco players, and was recently the former Executive for Strategy, Execution, and Performance Management at Vodacom’s Consumer Business Unit

It seems previous experience with Mendes influenced the latest hire.

“[Ayo-Oladejo] worked closely with Mendes as part of his executive team, playing a pivotal role in shaping strategies that fuelled business growth and enhanced the consumer experience. Her deep understanding of market dynamics, customer behaviour, and competitor insights enabled her to effectively orchestrate execution across multiple business units,” the telco adds.

“I am confident that her appointment will further strengthen Cell C’s position in the market in line with our strategic ambitions,” says Mendes.

Those ambitions include a sharp turnaround for profits after a dismal few years at, what once was of Africa’s most important telco firms. Part of this plan includes dropping its expensive telecommunication infrastructure. Cell C announced in June that it had completed this massive task.

As for Ayo-Oladejo, she holds an MBA from the University of the Witwatersrand Business School, as well as other accreditations and certifications in project management and coaching.

“I am honoured and thrilled to join Cell C as the Chief of Staff, Strategy and Business Transformation. I look forward to working closely with Jorge Mendes and the talented team at Cell C to drive the company’s growth, forge collaboration across the business, and unlock new opportunities for success,” beamed Ayo-Oladejo about her new role.

[Image – Provided]