Sahara Group has appointed Chidilim Menakaya as its new Managing Director.
Menakaya, a transformation and strategy executive with more than two decades of experience across Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, previously served as Director of the Sahara Foundation, where she led the company’s sustainability and social impact agenda.
During her tenure at the Foundation, she oversaw the expansion of Sahara’s EXTRApreneurship model, strengthened strategic partnerships and worked to deepen the group’s socio-economic impact across communities where it operates.
Announcing the appointment, Executive Director, Sahara, Ade Odunsi, said the decision reflected the company’s confidence in purposeful leadership and its commitment to developing its next phase from within.
“For over three decades now we have remained committed to our vision of bringing energy to life responsibly. Beyond XXX represents our commitment to shaping the future through bold thinking, innovation, sustainability, and shared value creation,” Odunsi said.
He said Menakaya’s appointment was aligned with the company’s ambitions, adding that Sahara was confident she would help expand its impact and create sustainable value for stakeholders across its markets.
As Managing Director, Menakaya is expected to provide strategic leadership for the implementation of Sahara’s Beyond XXX agenda, strengthen stakeholder value and position the company for continued growth and global relevance.
She has held leadership responsibilities spanning transformation, strategy, sustainability and people development, and is recognised for her collaborative approach and focus on building high-performing teams.
Menakaya holds executive and professional qualifications from London Business School, INSEAD and Manchester Business School. She is also a certified Human Resources Business Partner, Transformation and Reputation Manager, and Prosci-certified Change Management Practitioner.
The appointment places her experience in sustainability and organisational transformation at the centre of Sahara’s broader growth strategy as the company seeks to build a future-focused energy enterprise.