MTN has announced several changes to Group executive committee in continued execution and acceleration of the Ambition 2025 strategy.
MTN Group has announced that Godfrey Motsa will be stepping down as the CEO of MTN SA with effect from 1 January 2022, after almost five years in the role. Following his departure from the role, Charles Molapisi is set to take on the role of CEO of MTN SA.
“The Company would like to thank Godfrey for his leadership of MTN SA during a time when the business built a leading network position and improved its competitive position in the consumer postpaid and enterprise businesses. Charles Molapisi will assume the position of CEO of MTN SA, effective 1 January 2022. Charles, who joined MTN in 2009, is an experienced executive who has held senior positions within the Group. These include Group Chief Technology and Information Officer (CTIO) since 2020, CEO of MTN Zambia and Chief Information Officer (CIO) of MTN Nigeria prior to that. He is also a board member on a number of the companies within the Company, including MTN Nigeria. Godfrey will be available until the end of June 2022 to ensure a smooth handover and transition.”
MTN Group’s Online Statement
Further, MTN has announced that in an effort to deliver second-to-none networks and platforms Mazen Mroue has been appointed as the Group CTIO. He will assume the role effective from 1 February 2022, taking over from Charles following his appointment as CEO of MTN SA. Mazen joined MTN in 1998 and is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MTN Nigeria, a position he has held since 2018. Prior to that, he held various senior positions within the Group’s regional operation, including roles as CEO, COO and CIO of various operating companies in the Group. Mazen’s successor in MTN Nigeria will be announced in January 2022, ahead of his move to Group. Accelerating growth in core connectivity business, and driving structural separation of fintech and infraco assets
MTN’s core connectivity business will be streamlined into South Africa, Nigeria and Markets, comprising West and Central Africa (WECA), South and East Africa (SEA) and Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Ebenezer Asante will assume the new role of Senior Vice President (SVP) of Markets, with overall P&L responsibility of the three regions. As SVP of Markets, Ebenezer will retain his direct responsibilities for the current WECA markets of Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and Benin. The smaller WECA markets of Liberia, Guinea Conakry, Guinea Bissau and Congo Brazzaville will report to a new executive (not an Exco member) to be announced in January 2022. Part of Ebenezer’s focus will be to ensure seamless execution of the structural separation of the fintech and infraco assets within the Markets portfolio.
Yolanda Cuba (VP of SEA) and Ismail Jaroudi (VP of MENA) will remain on the Exco and report to Ebenezer. These changes will be effective from 1 February 2022. Enhancing focus of platforms to accelerate their scaling and growth
In order to enhance the capacity to accelerate growth of MTN’s fintech and other platforms, Serigne Dioum will assume the streamlined role of Group Chief Fintech Officer effective 1 February 2022. Jens Schulte-Bockum, the Group COO, will be responsible for driving the faster scaling of all platforms other than fintech. The digital, infraco, enterprise services, network as a service and Chenosis platforms will all report to Jens effective 1 February 2022. Jens and Serigne will work together closely to ensure strategic coherence and execution of both fintech and ayoba, as both businesses scale over the medium term. Consolidation of legal and regulatory responsibilities
Given the strong interdependence of the two functions, the legal and regulatory functions on Exco will be combined under Lele Modise in a revised role of Chief Legal and Regulatory Officer, effective 1 February 2022. Felleng Sekha, currently the Group Chief Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Officer, will remain with the Group until the end of April 2022 to ensure a smooth handover and transition of her current responsibilities.
To reinforce the implementation of its strategic priority to create shared value and the integration of ESG at the core of its business, MTN has announced the appointment of Nompilo Morafo as the Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, effective 1 February 2022. Nompilo is currently the Group Executive responsible for this function, which will be established onto the Exco. This new Exco position reflects the step change we at MTN have taken in our approach to sustainability. The role’s main areas of focus are on decarbonising; rural connectivity; greater diversity and inclusion; enhanced stakeholder management; and protecting digital human rights.
Nompilo joined MTN in 2019 from LafargeHolcim, where she was the country director for communications, public affairs and sustainable development. Prior to this, Nompilo was a Vice President for Sasol’s International Exploration and Production business spanning across various countries based in Mozambique. Her experience in corporate affairs, country management and sustainability spans more than 20 years in sectors including financial services, mining, oil and gas and now telecommunications.
To ensure that Ambition 2025 and MTN’s change programmes are well resourced and sequenced and that execution risks are well managed and mitigated, Strategy and Transformation will move from reporting to the Group COO to the Group President and CEO.
MTN has also announced the appointment of Chika Ekeji as the Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, effective 1 February 2022. Chika is currently the Group Executive responsible for this function, which will be established onto the Exco. He joined MTN in March 2021 from McKinsey & Company in Nigeria, where he was an associate principal. Prior to joining McKinsey, Chika worked at Booz & Company and Microsoft in the United States. His experience in strategy development and implementation spans a range of sectors including telecommunications, banking, digital business development and mobile financial services.
“The changes we are announcing today are about enhancing the structures needed to execute on our Ambition 2025 strategy and delivering on our medium-term guidance.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Godfrey Motsa for the role he has played over the years in the Group, firstly as VP of SEA and then CEO of MTN SA. I would also like to thank Felleng Sekha for the significant contribution she has made over many years in Group regulatory matters. I look forward to working with Felleng in her future endeavours that are aligned to our pan-African vision. I would also like to congratulate the new Group executive members and those who have expanded responsibilities”.
MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita
The Group Exco after 1 February 2022 will be as follows:
• Ralph Mupita – Group President and Chief Executive Officer
• Tsholofelo Molefe – Group Chief Financial Officer
• Jens Schulte-Bockum – Group Chief Operations Officer
• Mazen Mroue – Group Chief Information and Technology Officer
• Charles Molapisi – MTN South Africa CEO
• Karl Toriola – MTN Nigeria CEO
• Ebenezer Asante – Senior Vice President of Markets
• Yolanda Cuba – Vice President SEA
• Ismail Jaroudi – Vice President MENA
• Serigne Dioum – Group Chief Fintech Officer
• Lele Modise – Group Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer
• Ferdi Moolman – Group Chief Risk Officer
• Nompilo Morafo – Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer
• Paul Norman – Group Chief Human Resources Officer
• Kholekile Ndamase – Group Chief M&A and Business Development Officer
• Chika Ekeji – Group Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer
