A Fresh Chapter at Sahara Group as Chidilim Menakaya Emerges Managing Director 

Sahara Group has named Chidilim Menakaya as its new Managing Director, placing her at the head of the pan-African conglomerate as it pushes forward its “Beyond XXX” growth vision.

Her appointment is an internal one, built on years inside the organisation. Menakaya previously served as Head of Corporate Services for Sahara’s Upstream business, giving her direct exposure to the company’s core energy operations.

Her other track record sits in a different arena entirely. She spent years leading the Sahara Group Foundation, scaling initiatives such as the EXTRApreneurship model, MADAA and the Sahara Impact Fund across several African countries.

That combination, operational energy experience paired with sustainability-focused leadership, sets her apart from a typical executive hire. Few candidates carry both in equal measure. Her career stretches well beyond the Group. With more than 20 years of leadership experience spanning over 10 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, Menakaya has worked in telecommunications at MTN, consumer goods at Tetra Pak, and healthcare at Sanofi.

She also brings specific credentials suited to leading a large-scale corporate transformation. She is a Prosci-certified Change Management Practitioner and a Certified Human Resources Business Partner, qualifications aimed at guiding organisations through structural change without losing talent along the way.

Not to mention her academic background, with executive training from the London Business School, INSEAD, and Manchester Business School. Because her promotion comes from within, Menakaya arrives without the usual adjustment period an external hire would require. Years spent managing community partnerships and external relations through the Sahara Group Foundation have already built trust with regulators, communities and global partners the group depends on.

As Sahara looks to expand its footprint and sharpen its innovation strategy, that blend of operational depth, sustainability expertise, and existing stakeholder trust positions Menakaya to move quickly. Her leadership marks not just a title change, but a shift in how the group intends to balance commercial growth with long-term impact.