MTN leadership shake-up

MTN has announced three leadership changes at its infrastructure wholesale business and operating companies outside South Africa.

MTN said the changes were aimed at addressing succession, operational execution, and advancing its Ambition 2025 strategy.

The first change is Bayobab CEO and founder Frédéric Schepens leaving the company, with immediate effect.

Schepens has played a key role in the strategy formulation and strengthening of the financial position of Bayobab, formerly MTN GlobalConnect, growing its multiple business lines and generating over half a billion US dollars in assets and revenues.

MTN thanked Schepens for his contributions and wished him success in his future endeavours.

MTN Group chief technology and information officer (CTIO) Mazen Mroue will take on Schepens’ responsibilities as CEO of Digital Infrastructure (Infraco) in addition to his current role, effective 1 January 2025.

“This new role will incorporate the mobility and fibre businesses of Bayobab, along with executing our data centre strategy as we position MTN Group for growth and profitability in the development of AI across Africa,” MTN said.

“In this dual role, he will continue to report to the group president and CEO and remain a member of the group executive committee.”

Mroue has been with MTN for 26 years and has held various senior positions within the group’s regional operations in Africa and the Middle East, including CEO and COO roles across multiple operating companies.

He has also served as a board member of various companies within the MTN Group.

“Mazen’s strong technology and operational experience, combined with his track record of delivery, positions him well to fulfil this dual mandate,” MTN said.

New Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire CEOs

Outside South Africa, MTN Cameroon CEO Mitwa Ng’ambi will take over the same position at MTN Côte d’Ivoire, effective 1 March 2025, due to Djibril Ouattara’s early retirement.

MTN thanked Ouattara for his significant contributions, including his leadership of MTN Congo-Brazzaville.

“To ensure an orderly handover, Djibril will support Mitwa during her transition for a few months,” MTN said.

Mitwa has over 15 years of telecom experience and served as CEO of MTN Cameroon since September 2022.

She is also the board chairperson of Mobile Money Corporation, MTN’s fintech subsidiary in Cameroon.

Before heading up MTN’s business in Cameroon, she was CEO of MTN Rwanda.

In that capacity, she successfully led the renewal of the company’s licence and spearheaded its growth and listing on the Rwanda Stock Exchange.

She has also held leadership positions at Airtel Tigo in Ghana and Tigo in Senegal.

“Mitwa’s experience and track record will add impetus to the growth and turnaround of MTN Côte d’Ivoire,” MTN said.

MTN South Africa chief commercial operations officer Wanda Matandela will take over Ng’ambi’s position as MTN Cameroon CEO, effective 1 March 2025.

Matandela joined MTN in 2018 as chief enterprise business officer and drove the turnaround of this business.

“With over 20 years of experience, including more than 13 years in telecoms, he has held strategic roles across the FMCG and financial services sectors,” MTN said.

Matandela also serves on the boards of Supersonic and MTN Rwanda PLC.

“His strong commercial and stakeholder management experience will be invaluable as he builds on the high impact and energy created under Mitwa’s leadership, bringing new capabilities and insights to drive growth in Cameroon,” MTN said.

MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita extended his best wishes to all incoming and outgoing colleagues and expressed confidence in the business’s internal succession bench-strength.