Sebastien Codeville

Kai’s mission is to open up new possibilities for individuals, organizations, and society by bringing mobile connectivity to the billions of people without the internet. Devices running on the platform require limited memory while still offering a rich user experience through access to apps like WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, and Google Maps.

Sebastien is a founding member of KaiOS Technologies, bringing more than 20 years of experience in telecommunications and technology to the company. Under Sebastien’s leadership, KaiOS is experiencing explosive growth, with more than 150 million devices shipped in over 150 countries. Through partnerships with AT&T, Bullitt, China Mobile, Do-ro, HMD, MTN, Orange, Sprint, Vodacom, T-Mobile, and Transsion, KaiOS-powered devices have been shipped around the world to the U.S., Canada, Latin America, Europe, Africa, and Asia.

As CEO, Sebastien’s responsibilities include corporate direction, developing new business partnerships to accelerate global deployment, and attracting key talent to the organization. He oversees KaiOS Technologies’ seven offices around the world, including the U.S., China, India, and France, to facilitate the expansion. Under his leadership, the company is ranked 11th on Fast Company’s Top 50 Most Innovative Companies list, as well as 1st in the Consumer Electronics category. It is also the proud winner of GSMA’s GLOMO Awards 2020 in the category of Best Mobile Technology Breakthrough. Last year the company was ranked among TIME’s Best Inventions in the Social Good category for 2019 and had won several other awards, including the “Changing Lives Award” at AfricaCom 2019.

Prior to his role as CEO at KaiOS Technologies, Sebastien had an impressive track record in the telecom industry as vice president, Products and Programs for North America, at TCT Mobile Inc., where he grew the U.S. business from USD 30 million in 2010 to USD 1 billion in 2016, with 15 million phones sold. In his role, Sebastien spearheaded the product portfolio selection, pricing, and product definition, as well as the supervision of a product team operating in China. Earlier in his career, he held management positions at TCL Communications, Philips Semiconductors, and Alcatel Mobile.

Sebastien holds a master’s degree in business administration from HEC University in Asia and a master’s degree in electronic engineering from ISEN France.