Lacina Kone is the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Smart Africa since March 2019.
He oversees the process of defining and advancing Africa’s digital agenda and has overseen the development of continental blueprints for Africa on Digital Identity, ICT Start-ups and Innovation Ecosystems, Smart Villages and the definition of Africa’s Smart Broadband 2025 Strategy in addition to advancing additional key continental initiatives. In recognition for this work, Mr. Koné has reached the 12th position in 2021 among the 50 personalities advancing Africa’s digital transformation. He recently ranked number 3 among the 10 Africa digital trendsetters in the 2022 Jeune Afrique technology ranking.
Prior to that, he served as the advisor to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire (2017-2018), in charge of Digital Transformation and Public Reforms, and was also the advisor to the President from 2011-2017. Mr. Kone is a professional of ICT industry with over 25 years’ experience in the telecommunications, satellite and intelligent transport system. Prior to that, Mr. Koné held during his career several high level technical and managerial positions with firms such as Booz Allen Hamilton and Intelsat.
Mr. Kone holds a bachelor's degree in electronic engineering (United Arab Emirates), he has validated his Polytechnique rank at the University of Brunel (UK), and he holds and an MBA from George Washington University (US).
He also sits on the advisory boards of Benya Capital (Egypt) and Townlabour Technologies (US) and he is also a Commissioner in the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development (BBCOM).