MTN Uganda's CEO Themba Khumalo has been appointed as group operations executive at Africa's largest cellphone operator.
MTN says the move comes as part of the group's recent organisational model changes and is in a bid to “improve organisational effectiveness”.
“As operations executive, Khumalo will be responsible for managing 13 MTN operations, in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Congo Brazzaville, Cyprus, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Liberia, Rwanda, Sudan, Swaziland, Yemen and Zambia.”
According to MTN Group president and CEO Sifiso Dabengwa, Khumalo's successor in Uganda will be announced “soon”. Dabengwa says the group seeks to “do better in Uganda” while sustaining the company's “broad-based corporate social responsibility”.
Current credentials
Khumalo has a 20-year career in telecommunications. Having joined MTN SA in 1994, following a career in fixed-line telecommunications, he has since served as CEO for Swaziland, Rwanda and, over the past three years, Uganda. He has also served on a number of boards for MTN operations.
MTN Uganda chairman Charles Mbire says Khumalo's appointment will bolster the group's position in Africa, and commended him for “steady management in Uganda” during the last three years.
“We have been happy with Themba's [Khumalo's] steady hand in the face of various challenges such as the global recession, as well as increasing local competition. MTN Uganda has continued to grow steadily in terms of subscriber numbers and market share.”
MTN says, since joining MTN Uganda in 2009, Khumalo has overseen a number of key developments, such as the launch of Uganda's first mobile money service. “Also under his tenure, MTN Uganda achieved close to 60% growth in subscribers.”
Khumalo will report to newly appointed group chief operating executive, Ahmad Farroukh, formerly MTN group VP for the West and Central Africa region.
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