Ferdi Moolman Becomes New MTN South Africa CEO
MTN South Africa Gears Up for Growth with Leadership Shake-Up
MTN South Africa is entering a new chapter with a notable restructuring of its leadership team, designed to accelerate growth and maximize returns. Ferdi Moolman, a proven leader instrumental in MTN’s success in Nigeria from 2016 to 2021, will assume the role of CEO, replacing Charles Molapisi.
Alongside Moolman’s appointment, Yolanda Cuba, currently MTN Group’s Vice President for Southern and East Africa, will transition to the role of Deputy CEO and Executive Director of MTN South Africa.This pairing is expected to leverage their combined experience to drive significant advancements within the South African market.
The changes don’t stop there. Molapisi, who took the helm in 2022, will return to his roots as Group Chief Technology and Details Officer, with a renewed focus on integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) across all facets of the business. MTN sees considerable potential in leveraging AI to improve network performance, enhance customer service, and boost workforce productivity.
Looking ahead, MTN is also proactively planning for the future of its board leadership. Current Chairman Mike Harper, who has served since 2016, will be succeeded by Sindisiwe Mabaso-Koyana in the first quarter of 2026, ensuring a smooth transition.
A Broader Restructuring for Strategic Alignment
These key appointments are part of a wider series of strategic changes across the MTN Group executive committee. Notable shifts include:
- Finance & M&A: Tsholofelo Molefe, group CFO, will now oversee mergers and acquisitions, with Kholekile Ndamase reporting to her.
- Portfolio Optimization: Ismail Jaroudi will lead special projects focused on optimizing the group’s portfolio, while continuing as CEO of MTN Dubai.
- Regional Growth: Ebenezer Asante will expand his responsibilities to include operations in Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan, Sudan, Liberia, Eswatini, and Botswana.
- Francophone Africa Expansion: Karl Toriola, CEO of MTN Nigeria, will also lead efforts to grow MTN’s market share in francophone Africa.
- Infrastructure Focus: Mazen Mroué will concentrate on expanding MTN’s fibre and data center infrastructure across Africa, including exploring partnerships for network sharing and low-Earth orbit satellite access.
- Commercial & Strategy: Selorm Adadevoh, Group chief Commercial Officer, will add strategy and change to his portfolio.
- Emerging Businesses: Chika Ekeji will focus on accelerating growth within MTN’s emerging businesses.
- HR Transition: Paul Norman, Group Chief HR Officer, will retire at the end of 2026, with a successor search underway.
According to MTN, these changes are designed to support the accelerated execution of its strategy and unlock greater value for stakeholders. The moves demonstrate a commitment to leveraging internal talent and positioning the company for continued success in a rapidly evolving telecommunications landscape.