NETIS Group has announced the appointment of Alykhan Kassam as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking a new phase of growth for the pan-African telecom and energy infrastructure company. The appointment, effective October 1, 2025, comes as co-founders Jean Farhat and Jean-Claude Figali transition from daily operations to advisory roles on the board.

Founded in 2009, NETIS has grown into one of Africa’s largest infrastructure partners, offering end-to-end telecom site deployment, fibre rollout, and energy management solutions. With operations in more than 15 countries, the group supports mobile operators and governments with installation, power, and maintenance services designed to enhance connectivity and energy reliability.

In a statement, the company said the leadership change underscores its long-term commitment to “combine innovation with sustainability.” Jean Farhat, outgoing CEO, described the transition as “a new chapter in NETIS’s growth story,” emphasizing Kassam’s proven ability to lead complex industrial operations.

Kassam, an engineer by training, previously held senior roles at Siemens and John Cockerill, where he managed multi-country projects in the energy and infrastructure sectors. His appointment signals NETIS’s intention to deepen its energy-as-a-service (EaaS) offering and strengthen its position in Africa’s fast-evolving telecom power ecosystem.

Across the continent, telecom operators are increasingly seeking partners capable of delivering both network infrastructure and dependable energy solutions. NETIS’s ESCO-style model,  integrating renewable power, batteries, and maintenance, positions it to meet the dual challenge of expanding coverage and cutting operating costs. The new CEO  himself, in the statement, called the timing “perfect for Africa’s transformation,” pledging to “build the networks that connect people and the energy that drives growth.”

By Cynthia Ebot Takang