He has over 20 years of professional management and tech experience. He now leverages the expertise he acquired over the years to boost the development of the African digital economy. 

Ibrahim Ba (photo) is a Mauritanian engineer and director of network investments in emerging markets for Meta (formerly known as Facebook), since 2021. He designed and coordinated the deployment of 2Africa, a subsea cable project. The project, implemented in partnership with seven telecom operators, aims to interconnect Europe and the Middle East and Africa region by 2024 for improved and affordable internet services and enhanced use of Meta services in Africa. 

Ibrahim Ba joined Meta, in 2016, when it was still known as Facebook. At the time, he was head of infrastructure product partnerships for the Middle East and Africa region. His missions included improving connectivity and attracting new users online, in remote communities notably. 

Before joining Meta, the executive acquired years of professional management and tech experience. In 1994, he started as a software developer for tech solution provider Captiva. Three years later, he joined the science and engineering research lab Argonne National Laboratory as a senior software developer. 

In 2000, he became an associate in New York-based management consulting firm Oliver Wyman before he was appointed director in Level 3 Communications (which was later acquired by Lumen Technologies, formerly CenturyLink).  When he left Level 3 Communications in 2006, he was appointed vice-president of management consulting firm HIP Consult Inc. Ten years later, he began his adventure with Facebook.

In 2020, Ibrahim was on pan-African media Jeune Afrique’s list of the 100 most influential Africans. In 2021, the same media listed him among the 50  individuals who shape the African digital ecosystem. 

Melchior Koba