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Career chronology

What roles did Mo Ibrahim hold, and when?

Mo Ibrahim

Telecommunications entrepreneur who founded Celtel and founded and chairs the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, an African governance organisation.

Latest source 1 Jul 2026Updated 26 Oct 202615 sources

CurrentNow

Currently Co-Founder and Executive Committee member, Africa Europe Foundation, since 2020. 7 dated roles on record.

Identity record: Public Figure Record Verified

Roles, most recent first

  1. 2020 – present
    Co-Founder and Executive Committee member Africa Europe Foundation Current

    Listed by the foundation as a Co-Founder in its High-Level Group and as a member of its Executive Committee; the foundation, on Africa-Europe relations, was launched in 2020.1 2

  2. 2006 – present
    Founder and Chair Mo Ibrahim Foundation Current

    Founded and is the sole funder of the foundation, which focuses on governance and leadership in Africa.3 4 2 1

  3. 1998 – 2005
    Founder MSI Cellular Investments (later Celtel International) Former

    Founded the African mobile operator, sold to Kuwait's Mobile Telecommunications Co. (MTC) in 2005.5 6 7

  4. 1989 – 2000
    Founder Mobile Systems International (MSI) Former

    Founded the mobile network consulting and software firm, sold to Marconi in 2000.5 7

  5. 1983
    Technical Director Cellnet (BT's mobile operation, later O2) Former

    Technical director of BT's wireless operation.5

  6. Chairman (founding chairman) Satya Capital Limited Current

    Chairs the Africa-focused private investment firm.6 4

  7. 1983
    Academic (teaching) University of Birmingham Former

    Taught at the university before leaving academia in 1983.5

Where the dates come from

  1. PrimaryOur peopleAfrica Europe Foundation
  2. SecondaryFounder and Chair of the Mo Ibrahim FoundationStandard Bank
  3. PrimaryAbout usMo Ibrahim Foundation
  4. SecondaryMo Ibrahim biographyNelson Mandela Foundation
  5. SecondaryMo IbrahimEncyclopaedia Britannica
  6. PrimaryDr Mo IbrahimSatya Capital
  7. SecondaryMo Ibrahim: the African engineer who became a billionaire businessmanCNBC · 26 Apr 2019

Changes

26 Oct 2026 Published after review.

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