Cassava Technologies has reinforced its leadership in Africa’s digital transformation journey with the appointment of telecoms veteran Marco Gagiano as Global Head of Connectivity, effective September. The company announced that Gagiano’s appointment marks a strategic step towards strengthening its leadership team and accelerating its mission to become the continent’s leading provider of digital solutions.
This appointment comes at a defining moment for Cassava Technologies, as it continues to make bold strides towards driving Africa’s digital future. The company has recently expanded its efforts through a strategic partnership with Accenture to scale its sovereign AI capabilities across the continent. This partnership underscores Cassava’s commitment to fostering Africa’s technological independence and innovation capacity in a rapidly evolving global digital economy.
Adding to this momentum, Cassava’s founder and Executive Chairman, Strive Masiyiwa, revealed an ambitious plan to build Africa’s first network of AI factories during the recently concluded 80th United Nations General Assembly. These factories, powered by NVIDIA GPUs, are set to launch by 2026, beginning in South Africa before expanding to Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, and Nigeria. This initiative aims to anchor Africa’s participation in the global AI economy and drive large-scale digital industrialisation.
In his new role, Gagiano will oversee Cassava’s connectivity business across Africa, managing its extensive fibre, satellite, wireless, wholesale voice, and connectivity services. With over two decades of leadership experience spanning telecom and technology sectors across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, his appointment is expected to boost operational efficiency, innovation, and connectivity expansion.
Before joining Cassava, Gagiano held senior executive roles at MTN, Vodacom, and Vodafone Group, where he led transformative initiatives in product strategy, digital transformation, and commercial growth. His appointment marks a pivotal move for Cassava Technologies as it continues its mission to bridge Africa’s digital divide and empower a connected, intelligent, and inclusive future for the continent.
