Following the successful resolution of the Nigerian dispute, MTN Group Board has completed the review of its governance and management structures in accordance with its undertaking to do so. The appointment of new executives and the expansion of the roles of others, together with the appointment of additional non-executive directors, details of which are set out hereunder, will achieve the objective of strengthening management, enhancing governance and aiding strategy in the Group.
APPOINTMENT OF GROUP PRESIDENT AND CEO
The Company is pleased to advise that after conducting an extensive global search for a candidate suited to the demands of the Group’s future strategy, the Board has resolved to appoint Rob Shuter as the new Group President and CEO. Rob may commence as soon as it is practically possible in 2017 but not later than 1 July 2017 after the completion of his current contractual obligations. Rob, a South African national, is the current CEO of the European Cluster at Vodafone Group and has extensive experience in telecoms and banking having held senior management roles at Vodacom Group, Standard Bank and Nedbank prior to joining Vodafone Group. MTN is confident that Rob will bring experience and new insights to the CEO role having had many years in the telecoms sector both in Africa and Europe as well as in banking where his expertise will help as MTN continues to develop its new business strategy.
APPOINTMENT OF VP M&A and STRATEGY
With a view to increasing the Company’s focus on new revenue streams MTN is pleased to announce the appointment of a new VP M&A and Strategy effective 1 October 2016. The appointee has a wealth of banking experience. His substantial commercial experience will assist in the formulation of a revised strategy for MTN, particularly in the area of convergence between mobile telephony and financial services. His name will be announced before 30 June 2016.
APPOINTMENT OF VP SOUTH & EAST AFRICA
To enhance further the governance and depth of experience of the business operations, Godfrey Motsa has been appointed by the countries in the SEA Region (excluding South Africa) to oversee the operations in those regions with effect from 1 July 2016. Godfrey joins from Vodacom where he was Chief Officer for Consumer Business. Godfrey was previously CEO of Vodacom DRC Congo and CEO of Vodacom Lesotho. He brings 10 years of experience of telecoms in the region to MTN. He has various other commercial experience.
APPOINTMENT OF ADDITIONAL NON EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS
The Company resolved to refresh the board, deepening the commercial experience on both the Group and MTN SA boards with a view to improving the risk and governance profile of the group. The Company is pleased to announce the following new board appointments, which the Company believes will contribute to the company achieving these objectives:-
MTN Group – with effect 1 August 2016
1. Paul Hanratty
Paul is a veteran of Old Mutual, which he joined in 1984. He is an experienced executive director of a FTSE 100 financial services group with interests in insurance, asset management and banking in the UK, US, Africa, Asia and Latin America. Paul has extensive M&A experience in multiple countries,including four insurance acquisitions in Sub Saharan Africa.
Paul brings listed and unlisted board experience including chairing boards in South Africa, Sweden and the UK, and he has devised and implemented growth strategies for businesses in the UK, South Africa and Africa.
Paul is also the Chairman of the Emerging Markets Board, which is the regulated board for all SA life, P&C and asset management interests, as well as the African, Asian and Latin American businesses.
2. Stan Miller
Currently working with Len Blavatnik in London and Capital Group in New York, Stan is also an executive Chairman for MTS, their telecommunications conglomerate which covers investments in multiple emerging countries.
Stan has extensive commercial experience, having spent nearly 20 years as a divisional Chief Executive with standalone responsibility, latterly as Chief Executive Officer of International for KPN. Stan has successfully expanded the KPN through a number of MVNOs. At KPN he was responsible for its mobile activities in Germany, Belgium and abroad. He also served as Chairman of E-Plus and BASE where he introduced a strategy that changed the business model, creating significant value of over Euro 7bn for KPN for its shareholders.
Before relocating from South Africa, Stan was part of M-Net founding management team then subsequently joined Nethold where he served in various senior management roles before becoming Chief Executive Officer.
3. Nkululeko (“Nkunku”) Sowazi
Nkunku Sowazi was born in Soweto, was educated in Swaziland and then in the US (Los Angeles) when he obtained a MSc in Urban Planning. After his return to SA in 1991, he joined Kagiso Trust, then the Urban Development Trust, before joining Tiso and setting up his own fund. Thereafter, he led the merger with Kagiso Trust to form KTH. KTH is a leading black-owned investment company with in excess of R15 billion in assets and a net asset value of R10 billion, KTH has a strong and diversified asset portfolio covering the resources, industrial, media, financial services, healthcare, facilities management, property and information technology sectors Management, has R50 billion under management.
Nkunku has had significant exposure to listed and non-listed Boards, with owner managers or with professional managers, and as Board Director has has had varied and extensive experiences in M&A and management transformation. He sat on the Nominations Committee, Audit & Risk Committees at Exxaro, Aveng and now Grindrod, where he is an independent Director for one of the very first times in his long and respected career.
MTN South Africa – with effect 1 July 2016
MTN is also pleased to announce the appointment to the board of MTN South Africa, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of MTN, Mike Harper, Lerato Phalatse, Mike Bosman and Trudy Makhaya. The extensive commercial experience of these additional directors will greatly benefit MTN South Africa.
CHAIRMAN
Phuthuma Nhleko assumed the position of Executive Chairman on 9 November 2015 in order to resolve the very difficult challenges that the company experienced at the time. Given the appointment of Rob Shuter as Group President and CEO, Phuthuma will revert to his role as non executive Chairman as soon as Rob assumes his new position as soon as is practicably possible.
Until then, in order to facilitate a smooth transition MTN Group CFO, Brett Goschen, and the new VP M&A and Strategy, will assume clearly defined additional responsibilities under the guidance of the Executive Chairman. Phuthuma remains fully committed to the MTN Group and will continue to provide the necessary leadership as non-executive chairman for the next two and a half years when he plans to step down as Chairman.
