Bayobab, a digital infrastructure company, has named Rabih Kanaan as managing director of East to West.

The MTN Group subsidiary announced the appointment yesterday, saying that Kanaan will lead the East to West holding company, driving strategic growth and execution of Bayobab's operations in key markets.

Bayobab said that during his tenure with the firm, he has been instrumental in increasing the company's fibre footprint across multiple African countries, including the activation of major subsea projects such as 2Africa and Equiano.

The company went on to say Kanaan brings extensive experience to this position, having joined Bayobab in April 2019 as senior manager: Dry Segment Fibre Projects and later serving as senior manager: Subsea and Terrestrial Fibre

Bayobab said in a statement: His leadership in managing partnerships, suppliers, and stakeholders was instrumental in reducing costs and accelerating time to market, while his contributions earned him the Unique Contributor Award for several consecutive years.”

Mohammed Aliyu, Bayobab’s chief FibreCo officer, commented on the appointment: “His proven leadership and exceptional contributions have left a lasting impact on the organisation, and as we enter a critical phase of the East to West project, we are confident his expertise, vision and innovative approach will drive continued success.

“This appointment reflects our commitment to strengthening connectivity across the region and advancing Africa’s digital future.”

Prior to joining Bayobab, Kanaan spent 19 years in the telecommunications industry, primarily with MTN OpCos, where he held leadership positions roles in key markets, including serving as the chief technology and information officer of MTN South Sudan

Kanaan holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management, along with certifications in Telecommunication Science and Project Management Professional.

He has also completed multiple certifications in Leadership, Marketing, Sales, Business Strategies, and Program Management, said the company