South Africa’s MTN Group has announced the restructuring of the leadership of MTN Nigeria following the resignation of two top management staff in the wake of the crisis arising from the record $5.2 billion fine which the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) handed the company in October for failing to cut off users with unregistered SIM cards from its network. The fine was this week cut by more than a third to $3.4 billion by NCC following weeks of negotiation.

A statement made available to newsmen in Lagos on Thursday by the organisation, said that consequently, the MTN Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Michael Ikpoki, had tendered his resignation with immediate effect.

It said that the Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs, Mr Akinwale Goodluck, also tendered his resignation with immediate effect.

The group’s statement said that Ikpoki was replaced by Mr Ferdi Moolman as MTN Nigeria CEO, while Goodluck was replaced with Ms Amina Oyagbola, as its Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs.

Moolman, it said was previously the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at MTN Iran cell and most recently, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at MTN Nigeria.

The statement said that Nigerian national, Oyagbola retained the position of MTN Nigeria’s Head of Human Resources, in addition to heading regulatory affairs at the Nigerian operating company.

It said that the search for the MTN group’s CEO was underway and remained a priority.

“The group has resolved to re-implement its previous reporting structure.

“MTN group would restructure into three regions, namely West and Central Africa (WECA), South and East Africa (SEA), and Middle East and North Africa (MENA).

“To support this structure, MTN has made a number of senior appointments.”

The statement said that the MTN group’s leadership structure was also reviewed, adding that effective December 1, 2015, Ms Jyoti Desai would assume the new position of Group Chief Operating Officer (COO).

It added that Desai, who is based in Johannesburg and has 14 year working experience at MTN, would report to the Executive Chairman, Mr Phuthuma Nhleko.

“She has previously held the positions of Chief Information Officer at MTN Nigeria and was Chief Operating Officer (COO) of MTN Iran cell.

“Desai was recently seconded to support the Nigerian country operations.

“Her replacement as Group Chief Technology and Information Officer will be announced soon.”

The statement disclosed that two regional vice presidents had been appointed to report to the Executive Chairman.

It said that the vice president for WECA was Mr Karl Toriola, with Mr Ismail Jaroudi for MENA, adding that the vice president for SEA would be announced soon.

According to the statement, Toriola has been at MTN for 10 years, having held senior operational roles at MTN Group and MTN Iran.

It said that Toriola was formerly also the Chief Technology Officer at MTN Nigeria and CEO at MTN Cameroon.

The statement added that Jaroudi had been CEO of MTN Syria since 2006 and prior to this, he held senior operational roles for Investcom’s subsidiaries across the Middle East and North Africa.

“Also reporting to the Executive Chairman is the new Group Executive for M&A, Mr Matthew Odgers.”

According to the statement, MTN’s Group Executive Chairman, Mr Phuthuma Nhleko, said that the revised structure and strengthened leadership would improve operational oversight and increase management capacity.

“This will enable MTN to continue to realise its strategy and vision, while also ensuring we achieve high governance standards and robust risk mitigation.

“With the financial year closing on Dec. 31, 2015, the MTN Group will report its FY2015 results in line with the former structure, namely for MTN Nigeria, MTN South Africa, Large Operating Companies and Small Operating Companies.”

•Adapted from a NAN report. Photo shows former MTN Nigeria CEO Michael Ikpoki.

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