MTN Group appoints new CEO

Rob Shuter

Rob Shuter is the new group president and CEO. Shuter, 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.

The appointment of new executives and the expansion of the roles of others, together with the appointment of additional non-executive directors, will achieve the objective of strengthening management, enhancing governance and aiding strategy in the MTN group, MTN said in a statement today, 20 June 2016:

“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. 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.”

A new vice president: mergers and acquisitions and strategy has also been appointed, but his name will only be announced later this month.

New VP: South and East Africa

To further enhance governance and depth of experience of the business operations, MTN Group also announced that Godfrey Motsa has been appointed by the countries in the SEA Region (excluding South Africa), as vice president:  South and East Africa, to oversee the operations in those regions with effect from 1 July 2016.

Motsa joins from Vodacom where he was chief officer for consumer business. He 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 and has various other commercial experience.

Additional non-executive directors have been appointed to “refresh” the board and deepen commercial experience in the group, particularly in risk management and governance, with effect from 1 August 2016, for the group. They are: Paul Hanratty, chairman Emerging Markets Board; Stan Miller, executive chair MTS; Nkululeko Sowazi, KTH and Grindrod independent director.

Transition time

Phuthuma Nhleko assumed the position of executive chairman on 9 November 2015 in order to resolve challenges that the company experienced at the time. The MTN Group statement elaborates: “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.”

Commented Shuter: “I am honoured to have the opportunity and look forward to working with Phuthuma and the MTN Group board to ensure that we build on a strong foundation laid over the last 15 – 20 years for the group to realise its full potential.”