AFRICA – The continent’s largest mobile operator MTN announced a raft of leadership changes in its Africa operations.
Countries to be affected will be Zambia, Rwanda and Cote d’Ivoire. In a statement, the company says current MTN Zambia CEO, Philip van Dalsen, will be leaving MTN at the end of September.
Van Dalsen joined MTN in 2012 as CEO of MTN Cyprus and in January this year, he moved to MTN Zambia in the same capacity.
MTN Rwanda CEO Bart Hofker will take over the reins from Van Dalsen, effective October. Hofker is a senior commercial telecoms executive with extensive experience in mobile, fixed and integrated businesses.
The seat left in Rwanda will be filled by Mitwa Kaemba Ng’ambi, she previously held the role of chief marketing officer at MTN Benin and several other roles at MTN Zambia.
Ng’ambi is a seasoned leader with a career spanning more than 10 years in telecoms. She also has the unique experience of leading mergers and acquisitions in the telecom industry
She has a strong background in commercial and technology with a track-record of driving business strategy for growth, as well as developing high-performing teams, says MTN.
Ng’ambi joins MTN from Airtel Tigo Ghana, where she held the role of CEO. Prior, she was CEO of Tigo Senegal.
She has a Masters Degree in Computer Science from the University of Joensuu, Finland, and Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science from the University of Namibia.
CEO of MTN Cote d’Ivoire Freddy Tchala will be leaving MTN at the end of September. Tchala has been with MTN for 17 years and has had a remarkable journey with the company, the operator says.
After leaving MTN Cameroon, he served as CEO in Guinea Conakry and Congo Brazzaville, before joining MTN Cote d’Ivoire four years ago.
MTN will make an announcement in due course regarding a successor to Tchala.
Spokeswoman Karen Byamugisha said van Dalsen and Tchala are both stepping down due to personal reasons.
MTN has a presence in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East.