AGENCIES

Airtel Africa names Publicis Groupe Africa as marketing partner

By our African Marketing Confederation News Team | 2025

Advertising and public relations company will provide support to Airtel in 12 of its 14 African markets.

Telecommunications and mobile money service provider, Airtel Africa, has appointed Publicis Groupe Africa as its integrated marketing partner across 12 markets on the continent. This follows a pitch process.

Simon Berry via Flickr

The collaboration will span Congo Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Niger, Chad, Gabon, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and Madagascar. Certain other markets still being discussed.

Airtel Africa is a British company majority owned by the Indian telecommunications multinational, Bharti Airtel. Publicis Groupe Africa is part of the French-based advertising and public relations business, Publicis Groupe.

“This partnership is not only a win for Publicis Groupe Africa but a testament to truly 
borderless, collaborative and future-forward marketing across the continent. We deeply value Airtel’s confidence in our team and look forward to our partnership and building something truly impactful together,” says CEO Koo Govender.

Support long-term brand ambitions in African

According to a press release, Publicis is working with its affiliate in Nairobi, The Partnership Africa, to drive strategy, creative, storytelling, media, digital expertise, and data to support Airtel’s long-term brand ambitions in the African region.

“Thanks to the rest of our affiliate network, this collaboration enables the delivery of scalable, market-relevant campaigns while maintaining cultural nuance and local engagement,” Publicis states.

“This partnership signals a long-term commitment to transforming how Airtel Africa engages communities and customers across the continent.”

Airtel Africa claims to be the second-largest telecom operator in Africa and to be the number one or number two mobile-service provider by customer market share in 13 out of 14 markets. It has around 143-million mobile subscribers, 57-million data subscribers and 34-million Airtel Money users.

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