Fatou Sow Kane leads Expresso Sénégal into a new phase of innovation and financial stability.
Fatou Sow Kane has been the Chief Executive Officer of Expresso Sénégal since December 2022, becoming the first woman to lead the telecommunications company. Her appointment marked a significant milestone in the sector, which has historically been dominated by men, reflecting a growing recognition of women’s leadership within the Sudatel Telecom Group, Expresso’s parent company.
Sow Kane’s academic journey began at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in private law in 2001. She later obtained a master’s degree from the Institut Africain de Management (IAM) and completed executive education programmes at INSEAD, equipping her with both legal and managerial expertise.
Her professional career started in 1999 at Philip Morris International before she moved into telecommunications a year later, joining Millicom International Cellular (Sentel GSM/Tigo). In 2008, she joined Expresso Sénégal, advancing to senior roles, including Product and Services Director, Strategic Projects Director, Chief Enterprise Business Officer, and Chief Strategy and Business Planning Officer. Over the years, she built a reputation for her operational insight and familiarity with the evolving demands of the telecoms industry.
Leading organisational change
Since taking on her leadership role, Sow Kane has prioritised improving the company’s financial performance and operational efficiency. Reports indicate that Expresso Sénégal transitioned from a period of losses to achieving profitability in less than a year. She introduced the “EDGE” strategy, aligning Expresso’s priorities with the Sudatel Group’s broader focus on innovation, regulatory compliance, and customer satisfaction.
Her leadership approach emphasises workplace culture and employee engagement. By promoting internal collaboration and establishing clearer performance standards, she aims to enhance the role of human resources as a driver of business improvement rather than merely an administrative function.
One of the most notable developments during her tenure is the growth of Expresso’s digital and financial services. The company’s mobile money platform, E-Money, continues to expand access to financial tools for underserved communities across Senegal, supporting the nation’s broader digital inclusion goals. Expresso has also diversified its portfolio to include new digital offerings such as mobile television, video-on-demand, and customised solutions for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Another initiative championed by Sow Kane is the Expresso Innovation Hub, which serves as a platform for young entrepreneurs developing technology-based solutions. This hub reflects her belief that collaboration between telecom operators and innovators is crucial to Senegal’s digital transformation and youth employment agenda.
Through these initiatives, Expresso Sénégal aims to strengthen its position in a highly competitive market while contributing to the country’s digital and financial ecosystem. As Senegal’s telecommunications landscape continues to evolve, Fatou Sow Kane’s work highlights both the opportunities and challenges of guiding a mid-sized operator through a period of rapid technological change.
