MTN appoints new execs in Nigeria, Congo-Brazzaville

Pan-African operator MTN Group has announced the appointment of Mohammed Rufai as chief executive officer (CEO) of MTN Congo-Brazzaville and Ayham Moussa as chief operations officer (COO) of MTN Nigeria.

Rufai assumes the reins at MTN Congo-Brazzaville from Moussa on September 1, 2024, while Moussa will take over from departing MTN Nigeria COO Hassan Jabber on August 19, 2024.

MTN described Rufai is an accomplished professional with over 24 years of experience in ICT with an "impressive track record" in the telecoms industry.

He joined MTN Nigeria in 2002 and subsequently moved to MTN Ghana, where he became chief technical officer in 2015. Currently, he serves as the chief technical officer at MTN Nigeria.

Rufai has held various senior roles across the MTN Group, including regional chief technical and information officer (CTIO) for Southeast Africa and Ghana. He also serves on the board of directors of Bayobab (Nigeria) and MTN Benin.

He holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Science and certifications in Advanced Management and General Management. Rufai is an alumnus of Lagos Business School, Cranfield University, UK, and the University of Cambridge, UK.

MTN has made Mohammed Rufai CEO of MTN Congo-Brazzaville, replacing Ayham Moussa who now becomes COO of MTN Nigeria. (Source: MTN Group)

Moussa first joined MTN in 2002, returned in 2006 after a brief hiatus, and has since served the organization in various markets, including Syria and Guinea-Conakry.

He has held senior roles such as chief information officer, CTIO, and CEO of MTN Congo-Brazzaville.

In his technology roles, MTN said Moussa played a key role in the country's digital evolution from 2G to 4G, establishing MTN Congo-Brazzaville as a technology leader.

Côte d'Ivoire CEO retiring

The telecoms group also announced the voluntary early retirement of MTN Côte d'Ivoire CEO Djibril Ouattara.

MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita extended his thanks to Ouattara for his contribution over nearly nine years at MTN, saying he had been instrumental in building the business in Congo-Brazzaville and leading the turnaround of MTN Côte d'Ivoire.

He also thanked outgoing MTN Nigeria COO Jabber for his contribution to the success of the group over 22 years, where his roles included CEO in markets such as Sudan, Guinea-Conakry and Afghanistan.

"On behalf of the MTN Group Board and Group Exco, I wish both Djibril and Hassan well in their future endeavours. I also congratulate Ayham and Mohammed on their appointments and wish them success in their new roles," Mupita said in a statement.

Career moves

MTN has a tendency to promote internally and move its executives between its different African operations.

In March 2024, MTN appointed former MTN Uganda CTIO, Ali Monzer, as the new CEO of MTN South Sudan. He replaced Gordian Kyomukama, who retired after over four years at the helm in South Sudan.

In December 2023, MTN announced that Ghana CEO Selorm Adadevoh was becoming group chief commercial officer (GCCO) and Stephen Blewett would take over the CEO role at MTN Ghana.

In April 2023, MTN Afghanistan CEO Abbad Reda moved to become CEO at MTN Zambia.

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In July 2022, MTN also moved MTN Rwanda CEO Mitwa Ng'ambi to CEO in Cameroon with MTN South Africa's chief consumer officer, Mapula Bodibe, replacing Ng'ambi at the helm of MTN Rwanda.

It also recruited Safaricom's former chief consumer business officer, Sylvia Mulinge, to take over as CEO at MTN Uganda.

*Top image is of Ayham Moussa new COO of MTN Nigeria and Mohammed Rufai new CEO of MTN Congo-Brazzaville. (Source: MTN Group)

— Paula Gilbert, Editor, Connecting Africa