It is the end of an era at Airtel and the beginning of another as Mr. Segun Ogunsanya has finally taken over the management of the leading telco from erstwhile Chief Executive Officer Rajan Swaroop.

News Express had on February 5 reported that Ogunsanya, a Nigerian technocrat, had been understudying Swaroop since the first week of January after just over a month of grooming by Manoj Kohli, CEO (International) and Joint MD of the parent company, Bharti Airtel.

“Appointed and put under the tutelage of Kohli effective November 26, 2012, Ogunsanya quietly assumed leadership of Airtel Nigeria in the first week of last month,” News Express had reported, adding that Ogunsanya would take over the reins of power this month.

That hour finally came yesterday (March 23), and batons changed for the last time at the formal send forth for Rajan Swaroop, thus heralding the birth of the Ogunsanya era.

Airtel Board and Management were on hand at a colourful ceremony at Oceanview Restaurant Victoria Island, Lagos, to formally bid farewell to Swaroop.

Swaroop was managing director and chief executive during the turnaround phase of the company from May 2010 to March 2013 following the purchase of the Africa assets of Zain by Bharti Airtel, the Indian telecoms firm that is ranked fourth in the world.

Dignitaries that graced the event include the company’s chairman, Oba Otudeko, and Paul Usoro, a director of Airtel.

Other guests included Dr. Alex Otti, Group Managing Director of Diamond Bank plc; and Prof Pat Utomi, founder of the Centre for Values in Leadership.

Photo, L-R, shows Swaroop, Otudeko and Ogunsanya . . . yesterday at Oceanview Restaurant Victoria Island, Lagos.