Strive Masiyiwa

Founder & Executive Chairman | Econet Group

Strive Masiyiwa is the Founder and Executive Chairman of the Econet Group (“Econet”) which comprises Econet Wireless and Cassava Technologies. In 1993 Mr. Masiyiwa founded Econet Wireless, the mobile telephone networks and mobile money business of Econet.

Headquartered in London, UK, Cassava Technologies is Africa’s leading technology company of continental scale. Cassava Technologies encompasses Africa’s largest open access cross-border fibre broadband network, Africa’s largest carrier neutral data centres, solar renewable energy, cloud & cybersecurity, fintech, and on-demand digital platforms.

Mr. Masiyiwa serves on several international boards including Unilever Plc, Netflix, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Geographic Society and Bloomberg New Economy Forum.

In June 2020 Mr. Masiyiwa was appointed by the African Union as a Special Envoy for Covid-19. In that capacity, he coordinated the acquisition of medical supplies, therapeutics and vaccines for Africa on a global basis. He stepped down in February 2022.

A board member of the Rockefeller Foundation for 15 years, Mr. Masiyiwa is a co-founder of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa where he served as the second Chair after Kofi Annan and is now Chair Emeritus.

Born in Zimbabwe, Mr. Masiyiwa left the country in 2000 and is based in London,