MTN Group has announced the appointments of three permanent senior management team as part of plans to shakes up the company ahead of 2017.
In a statement from the telco Wednesday said Jens Schulte-Bockum will assume the position of Group Chief Operating Officer, effective January 16, 2017.
Jens will succeed Jyoti Desai, who is retiring. Jens has extensive operational experience in the mobile telecoms sector, with his last senior role being as CEO of Vodafone Germany between 2012 and 2015.
The statement also said Oliver Fortuin will assume the position of Executive Head of Business Enterprise, effective March 1, 2017. Oliver is currently the CEO of BT Global Services Sub Saharan Africa, having previously held many senior roles at IBM, HP and Lenovo.
“Bernice Samuels has re-joined MTN as Group Executive of Marketing, effective 1 January 2017. Bernice was previously Chief Marketing Officer in MTN SA, prior to assuming a similar role at FNB. She subsequently assumed the position of Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development at SABMiller in South Africa.
“Bernice will greatly assist in lifting and repositioning product development and uplifting the MTN brand to maintain its pre-eminent position in Africa and the Middle East, whilst adapting to a rapidly evolving sector,” the statement further said.
The MTN executive chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko said, “These senior management appointments bring to finality the management aspect of a large scale transformation and operational review process which I am confident will place the Group in good stead to capitalise on its many prospects and reach its full potential in a rapidly transforming and exciting sector.
“We have attracted individuals of high calibre and wide, relevant experience, to further enhance the existing management team, consistent with the anticipated trajectory of the Group.
I would like to thank Jyoti Desai for her contribution and the many roles she played during her tenure at MTN.”
