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By Winnie Kamau
Nairobi, Kenya: Africa’s Internet Registry, African Network Information Centre (AFRINIC) has appointed South African technology and telecommunications regulatory expert Mike Silber as its incoming Chief Executive Officer, as the regional internet registry moves to restore operational stability and rebuild trust within Africa’s internet community.
Silber, who currently serves as Group Executive for Regulatory Affairs at MTN Group, will take over as AFRINIC CEO on January 1, 2027, following what the organisation described as a rigorous recruitment process led by the AFRINIC CEO Search Committee, the Board and the Receiver.
The appointment comes at a critical period for AFRINIC, which manages Internet number resources for the African region and has faced significant institutional, governance and legal challenges in recent years.
According to the statement by AFRINIC Board, Silber’s appointment is intended to provide the leadership needed for the organisation’s institutional renewal and stabilisation.
A Seasoned Internet Governance Expert
Silber brings extensive experience across telecommunications regulation, internet governance, technology and legal affairs.
He currently oversees regulatory affairs at MTN Group, supporting a customer base of more than 300 million people across Africa. He has previously served as Group Chief Regulatory Officer at Liquid Intelligent Technologies and Chief Administrative Officer at Africa Data Centres.
His experience also includes international internet governance. Silber has served on the Board of Directors of ICANN and as Vice-Chair of the Address Supporting Organization Address Council (ASO AC).
He has engaged with institutions including the International Telecommunication Union, European Union, African Union and national regulators across several jurisdictions.
Silber has also served on the boards of the .ZA Domain Name Authority, ISPA South Africa and other industry bodies. He remains involved in public-interest internet governance as a Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Public Interest Registry, as well as a Director of TENET South Africa.
An Attorney of the High Court of South Africa, Silber is recognised for his expertise in internet and e-commerce law and the wider regulation of technology, media and telecommunications.
Restoring trust and stability
The AFRINIC Board said it expects the incoming CEO to focus on several immediate priorities, including restoring operational stability, improving governance and rebuilding confidence among members and partners.
The Board said Silber combines technical and legal expertise with an understanding of the specific challenges confronting AFRINIC.
Under his leadership, the organisation is expected to place renewed emphasis on service delivery, resolving outstanding legal matters and strengthening its institutional capacity.
The Board said these priorities will be critical to securing AFRINIC’s long-term role as the steward of Internet number resources for Africa.
Recovery Requires the Wider Community
The Board, however, stressed that AFRINIC’s recovery cannot rest solely on the incoming CEO or the current Board.
“AFRINIC’s recovery will not be the responsibility of just one individual or just one Board,” the organisation said, calling on members, staff, partners and the wider African Internet community to support Silber as he prepares to take office.
The appeal comes as AFRINIC seeks to rebuild relationships with its membership and the broader African and international internet governance community.
The organisation said its mission remains to serve as a “responsible and effective steward of Internet number resources for Africa”, arguing that achieving this will require a collective commitment to a stable, trusted and community-driven institution.
The Board said it looks forward to working with Silber and the wider community to secure a more resilient future for AFRINIC and support the continued growth of the Internet across Africa.
