By: Tewodros Balcha
Ethio Telecom
has appointed Tariku Demissie, the 132-year-old operator’s current chief
technology officer, as interim chief executive, placing a senior technical
executive at the helm as the company expands into digital financial services
and other technology businesses.
Demissie’s
appointment follows the departure of former chief executive Frehiwot Tamru, who
moved to Ethiopia’s Ministry of Innovation and Technology following a cabinet
announcement on October 8. The leadership transition comes as Ethio Telecom
pursues an expansion beyond conventional telecommunications into digital
financial services, enterprise technology and digital platforms.
Demissie brings
extensive experience within the operator, having spent 14 years at the company,
including nine years of progressive experience in its technical domain. His
experience also spans project management and business-partner management,
complemented by an academic background in electrical engineering..
The appointment
comes as Ethio Telecom pushes further from a traditional telco towards a
techco, pursuing a broader transformation beyond conventional voice and data
services. Its “Next Horizon: Digital & Beyond 2028” strategy sets out
ambitions to expand its customer base and strengthen its position in digital
financial services, enterprise solutions and digital platforms.
The company
reported revenue of 215.82 billion birr for the 2025/26 fiscal year, up 33.2%
from the previous year, and a total customer base of 90.12 million. Its annual
performance figures also reported 4.19 trillion birr in telebirr transaction
value. The mobile-money platform has become a major component of the operator’s
wider digital-services offering.
Network
expansion remains central to the strategy, with Ethio Telecom reporting 82.23%
population coverage for 4G and commercial 5G services in 33 cities during the
fiscal year. The operator is also navigating a changing telecommunications
market following the entry of private-sector competition and its listing on the
Ethiopian Securities Exchange.
Demissie’s
appointment places a technology executive with experience in network
infrastructure, project management and external partnerships at the centre of
the company’s next phase.
