The MTN Group on Friday, 3 May 2019, announced significant changes to the Group Board.

It also revealed its plan to establish an International Advisory Board (IAB).

The MTN Group Board is of the view that MTN has entered a more stable and settled period which enables it to now effect an evolution of the Board following recent challenging regulatory environments and competitive trading conditions.

MTN Group announced the following changes to the Board over the next 12 months:

1. The Chairman of MTN Group, Phuthuma Nhleko, who was anticipated to step down from his position at the AGM to be held on 23 May 2019, will step down from the Board on 15 December 2019 after overseeing an orderly transition of the Board including the establishment of the International Advisory Board.

2. Mcebisi Jonas has been appointed Chairman-designate and will assume the position of Chairman of MTN Group effective 15 December 2019.

3. Dr. Khotso Mokhele will assume the responsibilities of Lead Independent Director with effect from 15 December 2019.

4. Further, Alan Harper, Jeff Van Rooyen and Koosum Kaylan will step down from the Board on 15 Dec 2019 after an orderly transition and handover to incoming directors.

5. Peter Mageza and Dawn Marole will step down from the Board effective 30 April 2020.

“Further to the above, we are pleased to welcome onto the Board His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Vincent Rague with effect from 1 July 2019”, a statement issued by the MTN Group Corporate Affairs unit said.

His Royal Highness Sanusi Lamido Sanusi is a Nigerian national, the Emir of Kano and a former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Mr Vincent Rague is a Kenyan national who worked for the International Finance Corporation for 24 years in a number of senior positions.

“We are confident that the incoming directors will bring a wealth of experience, diversity of skills and regional experience to the Board”.

Establishment of an International Advisory Board

The Board has also resolved to establish an international advisory board (IAB) of prominent persons of considerable and wide-ranging experience. The primary purpose of the IAB will be to counsel, guide and support the MTN Group from time to time in fulfilling its vision and objective of being one of the premier African corporations with a global footprint in telecommunications, contributing to increased digital inclusion in Africa and the Middle East, a pivotal aspect of the fourth industrial revolution.

Whilst the IAB will be non-statutory in nature and not have any fiduciary responsibility, it will make an important contribution and play a highly valued role in ensuring that the Board is guided and assisted in achieving the company’s vision in a technically complex world with uncertain and shifting geopolitical interests. The IAB will commence on 1 July 2019.

The IAB will be chaired by His Excellency former President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Thabo Mbeki and will be constituted of the following persons:

• His Excellency President John Kufuor, former President of Ghana

• Dr. Aisha Abdullahi, former African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs

• Dr. Mohammed el Baradei, former Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency

• Dr. Momar Nguer, President of Marketing & Services Total S.A. (France)

• Phuthuma Nhleko, Chairman of MTN Group

MTN Group Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko said: “MTN Group highly appreciates and thanks the MTN Group directors who will be stepping down after many years of valued service to the Group. We are confident that the incoming directors of the Board will bring a depth of skills and regional insights that will continue to enrich the experience of the board”.

“We are most privileged and honoured to have His Excellency former President of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. Thabo Mbeki, agree to Chair the IAB and are grateful to all the distinguished persons of the IAB who have agreed to give of their valuable time to contribute to the development of telecommunications and connectivity in Africa and the Middle East.”