Subscribe

Nyati moves to MTN

Nicola Mawson
By Nicola Mawson, Contributor.
Johannesburg, 01 Oct 2014
Leaving Microsoft for MTN was a difficult decision to make, says former GM of emerging regions within the MEA, Mteto Nyati.
Leaving Microsoft for MTN was a difficult decision to make, says former GM of emerging regions within the MEA, Mteto Nyati.

Mteto Nyati has moved from heading up Microsoft's recently created Africa entity to head up home-grown MTN's enterprise strategy.

Nyati joins MTN - Africa's largest cellular operator - as group chief enterprise officer. He explains his decision to move was fuelled by a desire to support a local multinational, rather than a global one.

In June, Nyati was promoted to GM of emerging regions within the Middle East and Africa (MEA) at Microsoft, as the company seeks to tap into regional growth potential. His role was taken over by Zoaib Hoosen, who has been the company's local COO since 2013.

Nyati, who had been with Microsoft since 2008, was set to work with the leadership teams across MEA to develop and implement growth strategies for the emerging markets within the MEA region.

At MTN, Nyati will lead the group's enterprise and ICT strategy for its operations in 22 countries, which he says is more territories than he covered at Microsoft. "It was a difficult decision," he says of the move.

"This newly created role is in line with our strategy to further leverage our integrated ICT offerings. Mteto will be a member of the group executive committee, and take responsibility for leading the group-wide enterprise and ICT strategy, and to enhance MTN's position in the enterprise segment," says Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN Group president and CEO.

Nyati spent 12 years at IBM, where he held a number of senior executive roles. He has a BSc degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Natal. In 2004, he was named a Yale University World Fellow.

It is not yet clear whether Microsoft will fill the position vacated by Nyati, although he doubts he will be replaced soon, as it was custom-made for him based on his seniority.

Share