Mr. Lacina Koné, is the Director General and Chief Executive Officer of Smart Africa having
joined the organisation in 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 been recognized in 2021 as 12th among the 50 personalities advancing
Africa’s digital transformation and ranked number 3 among the 10 Africa digital trendsetters
in the 2022 Jeune Afrique technology ranking. Mr. Koné also sits on the advisory boards
of Benya Capital in Egypt and Townlabour Technologies in the USA. In addition, he is a
Commissioner in the Broadband Commission for Sustainable Development (BBCOM) and
recently joined in May 2024 the board of directors of the PDAA (Partnership for Digital Access
in Africa).