PROPOSAL NO. 1: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
It is proposed that each of Sam Darwish, William Saad, Ursula Burns, John Ellis Bush, Maria Carolina Lacerda, Nicholas Land, Phuthuma Nhleko and Aniko Szigetvari be elected to serve as directors until the 2027 AGM, or, in each case, until their earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
We currently have eight (8) directors on our Board of Directors. The Board has nominated our current directors, being each of Sam Darwish, William Saad, Ursula Burns, John Ellis Bush, Maria Carolina Lacerda, Nicholas Land, Phuthuma Nhleko and Aniko Szigetvari, for election as directors at the AGM.
As set forth in our Articles, the Board is currently divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III. In accordance with our Articles, following the AGM, the Board of Directors shall no longer be classified and our directors shall be elected annually.
Election of Directors
Our Nominations and Corporate Governance Committee and our Board recommend that we nominate each of Sam Darwish, William Saad, Ursula Burns, John Ellis Bush, Maria Carolina Lacerda, Nicholas Land, Phuthuma Nhleko and Aniko Szigetvari to be elected to serve as directors until the 2027 AGM, or, in each case, until their earlier death, resignation, disqualification or removal.
Nominee’s Qualifications and Independence
Each of the nominees has consented to being named in this Proxy Statement and has advised the Company that he or she is willing, able and ready to serve as a director if elected. Additionally, each of the nominees possesses the necessary qualifications and has sufficient time to fulfill his or her duties as a director of the Company, taking into account the size and needs of our Company. We do not have any arrangements, understandings or agreements with respect to the election of Sam Darwish, William Saad, Ursula Burns, John Ellis Bush, Maria Carolina Lacerda, Nicholas Land, Phuthuma Nhleko and Aniko Szigetvari at the AGM. Each of Ursula Burns, John Ellis Bush, Maria Carolina Lacerda, Nicholas Land, Phuthuma Nhleko and Aniko Szigetvari is independent within the meaning of the independent director guidelines of the New York Stock Exchange.
Biographies of the Director Nominees
Set forth below is certain biographical information regarding the background and experience of the director nominees.
Sam Darwish, 55, is one of the co-founders and Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of the Company. An engineer by education, Mr. Darwish has over 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry. Before founding the Company in 2001, he worked in various technical and managerial capacities in multiple GSM operators including Libancell SAL, a Lebanese GSM operator, which is currently known as Touch, and Motophone in Nigeria. In addition, Mr. Darwish currently serves as the Founder and Principal of Singularity Investments, a private investment firm with a focus on technology, media and telecommunications companies in the United States and the emerging markets. He is also the Founder and President of DAR Properties, a property investment company, and DAR Telecom, a telecommunications consulting company. Sam Darwish is the brother of Mohamad Darwish, an Executive Vice President of the Company and Chief Executive Officer of IHS Nigeria.
William Saad, 55, is one of the co-founders of the Company, joined the Board of Directors in April 2026, and has served as Executive Vice President and Group Chief Operating Officer of the Company since July 2012 and has over 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications industry. Before co-founding the Company, Mr. Saad worked in various technical and managerial capacities in multiple GSM operators including Libancell SAL, a Lebanese GSM operator, which is currently known as Touch, and Motophone in Nigeria. Mr. Saad also serves on the board of several private companies as well as the Lebanese-Nigerian Initiative, a non-profit organization.
Ursula Burns, 68, joined the Board of Directors of the Company as a Non-Executive Independent Director in July 2020. Ms. Burns most recently held the position of Chair and CEO of VEON, Ltd, where