Telecommunications group MTN Group has made changes to its board and operating model as it looks beyond 2025.

During an evaluation of its Ambition 2025 strategy and its execution over the past several months, which determined the strategy remains relevant and appropriate, the MTN Group board considered the evolving geopolitical, macroeconomic and technology landscapes.

While these present challenges for the business, they also present opportunities for MTN to accelerate Africa’s digital future.

In line with this, MTN Group is streamlining its focus into three principal platforms of ‘connectivity’, ‘fintech’ and ‘digital infrastructure’.

This three-platform approach will best position the group to capture value from the structural growth opportunities brought about by data adoption and financial inclusion across Africa.

“Within the connectivity platform, we see opportunities in winning the home, as well as simplifying and consolidating our digital offerings to accelerate their growth. In fintech, we are leveraging our solid foundation to transform the business into a scaled, digital-first platform,” the company said in a statement on Monday.

MTN is also enhancing its positioning in the digital infrastructure business to better enable the exponential growth in digital workloads, as well as infusing AI across the business for value creation.

“This approach will enrich our ability to leverage the strengths of our established businesses and rapidly scale the emerging ones.”

To strengthen strategy execution and delivery, MTN announced several executive committee (exco) changes, which will become effective from November 1, to support accelerated execution of MTN’s strategy and value creation over the medium-term.

Ralph Mupita remains as Group president and CEO, while Group CFO Tsholofelo Molefe will have her responsibilities expanded to incorporate the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) portfolio.

Current chief M&A and business development officer Kholekile Ndamase will step down from the group exco and have a new reporting line to Molefe in her role as the steward for the capital allocation framework and its implementation at the group level.

“We have made good progress in the optimisation of our portfolio, including the exits from the Middle East and some African markets. In this context, we are simplifying the structure and operating model of our markets portfolio, to ensure that it is better positioned as we drive the growth of our connectivity operations.”

Current Middle East and North Africa VP Ismail Jaroudi will step down from group exco and assume the role of VP of Special Projects in the office of the Group president and CEO, focused on portfolio optimisation initiatives. He will also continue his role as MTN Dubai CEO.

Ebenezer Asante, current senior VP of markets, will focus on accelerating the growth and the contributions of the operations in Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, South Sudan, Sudan, Liberia and the joint ventures in Eswatini and Botswana going forward. He will take on this revised role as Ghana, Southern and East Africa (SEA) VP.

Meanwhile, MTN Nigeria CEO Karl Toriola will take on additional responsibilities as Francophone Africa VP, alongside his role as MTN Nigeria CEO, with a focus on growing the market shares of operations in these markets, including Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin and Congo Brazzaville.

MTN Group chief risk officer Ferdi Moolman will succeed Charles Molapisi as MTN South Africa CEO and executive director. A successor for Moolman will be announced in due course.

Molapisi led MTN South Africa through a challenging period of high power outages and network resilience, maintaining the company’s network leadership, MTN Group pointed out.

Moolman has held several senior roles within the group, including MTN Nigeria CEO from 2016 to 2021. He will step down from the MTN Nigeria board effective October 31.

Yolanda Cuba, currently VP for SEA, will step down from group exco to become deputy CEO and executive director of MTN South Africa.

MTN South Africa chairperson Mike Harper will be retiring in 2026, to be succeeded by Sindisiwe (Sindi) Mabaso-Koyana in the first quarter of 2026.

As the group decouples its group chief technology and information officer and digital infrastructure roles, Molapisi, with a strong background in network and IT, will remain on the group exco taking up his previous role as group chief technology and information officer.

He will have additional responsibilities and focus on speeding up AI use case adoption and infusion across the business.

“We see a significant value-creation opportunity over the medium term in the leveraging of AI across the business in domains such as network, customer operations and workforce productivity.”

Current group chief technology and information officer and digital infrastructure CEO Mazen Mroué will prioritise accelerating efforts in expanding the fibre and data centre businesses across Africa.

As additional focus areas, Mroué will work strategically with MTN’s towerco partners, as well as lead network sharing opportunities across the company’s operations to drive efficiencies.

As the digital infrastructure platform continues to evolve, Mroué will lead the group’s partnerships with non-terrestrial networks such as low-earth orbit satellite operators.

Meanwhile, current group chief commercial officer Selorm Adadevoh will take on expanded responsibilities to include strategy and transformation.

Chika Ekeji, the current chief strategy and transformation officer, will step down from the group exco to focus on accelerating the growth of some of the emerging businesses aligned to the platform strategy.

MTN Group Fintech CEO Serigne Dioum; MTN Group chief legal and regulatory affairs officer Lele Modise and MTN Group chief sustainability and corporate affairs officer Nompilo Morafo maintain their roles.

Group chief human resources officer Paul Norman will be retiring at the end of 2026, with a successor to be announced by mid-2026.

“These leadership changes illustrate the depth of talent and experience we have across the Group. The changes will support the accelerated execution of our strategy beyond 2025 as well as greater value creation for stakeholders over the medium term,” said Mupita.