Africa and Middle East biggest mobile phone giant MTN has named Jens Schulte-Bockum, the former CEO of Vodafone Germany, as its chief operating officer.
He will replace Jyoti Desai, who is retiring.
“I would like to thank Jyoti Desai for her contribution and the many roles she played during her tenure at MTN,” said Phuthuma Nhleko, MTN’s executive chairman..
Schulte-Bockum was the CEO of Vodafone Germany between 2012 and 2013.
“We expect Jens to bring extensive experience in the consumer business, as well as the area of large scale transformation in the convergent operation, ” the South African-based telco with operations in more than 20 countries across the Middle East and Africa, said in a statement on Wednesday.
The group also announced the appointment of Oliver Fortuin as the executive head of Business Enterprise, effective 1 March 2017.
Oliver is currently the CEO of BT Global Services Sub Saharan Africa, having previously held many senior roles at IBM, HP and Lenovo. As Head of BT Global Services, Oliver was engaged in the development and sale of enterprise solutions to many multinationals across the African continent.
MTN said in a statement that Oliver will greatly enhance MTN’s strategy in this area.
The company also has re-appointed Bernice Samuels as 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,” said the company.
“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,” Nhleko said.
“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.”
- Main Picture Credit: RP Online
