Ahmed Nafea is an accomplished executive with over 15 years of leadership experience in telecommunications, e-commerce, and payment services, specializing in driving growth, digital transformation, and strategic turnarounds. He currently serves as the Chief Marketing Officer for Jumia North Africa, overseeing operations in Egypt, Morocco, and Algeria. In this role, Ahmed leads a team responsible for delivering sustainable year-over-year growth in highly competitive markets.
Previously, Ahmed was instrumental in Jumia Egypt's turnaround, restructuring the marketing department amidst a 90% YoY budget cut. His innovative strategies and partnerships led to an 8% increase in customer acquisition and a 10% improvement in return rates. As Group Head of Performance Marketing for Jumia Group, he managed digital marketing efforts across 10 countries, driving a 40% improvement in return on ad spend and increasing return rates by 20%.
Prior to Jumia, Ahmed held leadership roles at Goodsmart, a VC-backed grocery delivery startup, and at Etisalat Egypt, where he spearheaded the development of value propositions that drove significant market share gains in the highly competitive telecom sector. He also played a key role in Orange Egypt’s 3G network launch, one of the fastest rollouts in the MENA region.
Ahmed holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD, where he focused on finance, private equity, and corporate turnaround. His ability to combine strategic vision with hands-on implementation has consistently led to improved operational efficiency, customer growth, and revenue generation across all his leadership roles.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Ahmed is fluent in both Arabic and English and is passionate about mentoring startups, leveraging his deep expertise in marketing, strategy, and growth.
Outside of work, Ahmed is a Formula 1 fanatic with a deep understanding of car mechanics, technology, and race strategies. He never misses a race and has attended several in person. An avid basketball player, Ahmed played as an amateur until university and still plays weekly with old teammates. He is also passionate about outdoor activities like hiking, rock climbing, rafting, and diving.
