Yasser Shaker, a visionary engineer leading Orange Africa and Middle East

June 1, 2025, will mark a turning point for the Orange group. At the head of its Africa and Middle East zone—the most dynamic in terms of growth—the telecom group has chosen an internal profile: Yasser Shaker, until now CEO of Orange Egypt. This appointment rewards the journey of an engineer turned strategist, capable of combining digital transformation, economic growth, and digital inclusion.

A technical journey rooted in innovation

A graduate in electronic engineering from Cairo University, Yasser Shaker began his career in telecommunications in the early 1990s. He joined Orange Egypt (formerly Mobinil) in its early years and climbed the ranks thanks to his technical expertise and ability to rally teams around innovative projects.

Over the years, he contributed to deploying the country’s first mobile infrastructures, then led network transformation projects. Starting in 2011, he was responsible for technological planning and strategy for the group in Egypt, then at the regional level, before being appointed CEO of Orange Egypt in 2018.

Transforming Orange Egypt: From operator to digital player

Under his leadership, Orange Egypt moved beyond being just a mobile operator. The company became a leading digital player, focusing on mobile financial services, cloud infrastructure, data, and innovation in business services.

His appointment as CEO of Orange Egypt in 2018 marked a turning point for the operator, which then undertook a profound transformation. Under his guidance, Orange Egypt became much more than a mobile access provider. The company reinvented itself as a major digital actor, investing in mobile financial services with Orange Cash, developing cloud solutions for SMEs, promoting digital education, and establishing one of the most efficient 4G networks in the region, in preparation for the arrival of 5G. The development of strategic data centers contributed to making it a pillar of digital sovereignty in Egypt.

« We understood very early that Orange should not just connect people, but also offer them the tools to create, learn, and build businesses. Digital is a lever for economic and social transformation, » declared Yasser Shaker in a 2023 interview.

These successes, recognized by Egyptian authorities and international partners, positioned Yasser Shaker as one of the most influential leaders in the sector in Africa and the Middle East. His promotion in 2025 to CEO of Orange Africa and Middle East confirms the group’s desire to rely on talent from the continent to lead its strategic zones.

Africa is the laboratory of our innovation. This is where Orange’s future is being shaped

Present in 18 countries in the region, Orange has nearly 150 million customers there, more than 60 million of whom use its mobile financial services. The region alone represents 15% of the group’s revenue and is experiencing sustained growth. « Africa is the laboratory of our innovation. This is where Orange’s future is being shaped, » recently stated Christel Heydemann, CEO of the Orange group.

For Yasser Shaker, the challenges are equal to the ambitions. He wants to accelerate digital inclusion in rural areas, strengthen access to financial services for unbanked populations, develop e-health and e-education solutions adapted to local realities, and support the expansion of Orange Bank Africa, already present in Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

But his vision goes beyond infrastructure. In Egypt, he had already initiated training programs for young people, startup incubators, and mechanisms to promote the inclusion of women in tech. He now intends to replicate this dynamic across Africa and the Middle East.

Africa does not need a copy of the European or Asian model. It needs local solutions, built with and for its citizens

Described as a humble, demanding, and action-oriented leader, Yasser Shaker embodies this new generation of African leaders capable of combining technology, growth, and social impact. « Africa does not need a copy of the European or Asian model. It needs local solutions, built with and for its citizens, » he reminded attendees at a digital forum in Cairo.

With his appointment, Orange confirms its strategy of local anchoring, relying on an in-depth understanding of field realities and a leadership rooted in innovation. At a time when Africa is becoming the main testing ground for major technological advances, Yasser Shaker’s journey illustrates a winning long-term bet.