MTN Group unveiled six new executives who will be taking up different roles at the company headquarters and its subsidiaries across the continent.
MTN Group president and CEO, Rob Shuter says the new appointments and reshuffles are aimed at realizing the goals set under the telecommunication company’s BRIGHT strategy.
“Charles, Nikos, David, Motselisi, and Nompilo bring valuable skills and experience to their new roles, which will stand them in good stead to lead their respective business units and support the delivery of our BRIGHT strategy,” he says.
Charles Molapisi and Van Dalsen
Charles Molapisi replaces Babak Fouladi as chief technology and information officer, following the resignation of the latter for another gig in Europe.
Molapisi, according to MTN Group, will take over the new office beginning January 1, 2019.
The group says Charles Molapisi has more than 16 years of experience in both fixed and mobile telephony.
Before joining MTN, he worked for Telkom and Liberty Life. At MTN, he has served in several top positions, including chief information officer (CIO) MTN Nigeria.
He’ll be leaving MTN Zambia as CEO and his replacement is Phillip van Dalsen.
Van Dalsen is the former MTN Cyprus CEO.
Molapisi is a graduate of the University of South Africa, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Business Leadership.
He also holds a post-graduate Diploma in Business Management from the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree from the University of the Witwatersrand.
Additionally, Charles Molapisi has completed courses on strategy and talent with Harvard Business School, Columbia Business School and the Institute for Management Development in Switzerland.
Nikos Angelopoulos
Nikos Angelopoulos joins MTN Group as CIO, accountable for information technology design and delivery.
In his role, he is charged with managing and maintaining the standard IT architecture across the group, and, in line with the strategy, ensure that the company leads innovation and customer experience.
According to MTN, Angelopoulos has more than two decades of experience in management consulting and working for telecommunications service providers.
Nikos Angelopoulos started his career with Accenture in the UK where he spent 15 years helping clients in different industries to start their digital journeys.
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His first engagements were in the financial services industry where he worked on the digital transformation of the London Stock Exchange.
He later moved to telecommunications, working with cable operators and telcos in Europe, Asia, and the United States focusing on launching digital television platforms and services.
After Accenture, Nikos Angelopoulos joined Vodafone where he held various senior management positions including CIO for Vodafone Italy and South Europe region and member of the Group IT Board.
He joins MTN from UAE’s Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company where he was the executive vice president for IT and product engineering.
Nikos Angelopoulos holds a BSc. in Physics from the University of Athens and Master of Science Degree in Digital Communications and Signal Processing from Imperial College, University of London.
He also has an executive MBA from London Business School.
David Gilarranz
David Gilarranz has been appointed as the CEO for MTN Digital.
According to MTN, Gilarranz has more than 28 years of experience in telecommunications and digital services.
He spent his early career in companies such as Verizon and Convergys, in strategic planning and sales management, and later co-founded the company Cyclelogic, one of America’s early movers in the texting and mobile Internet services space.
David Gilarranz joined MTN from Millicom where he was the VP for digital and innovation.
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The recent Simfy acquisition will report directly to him as part of his portfolio. A graduate of Stanford University Graduate School, David Gilarranz has completed an executive leadership programme with Stanford University Graduate School of Business, USA, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in business management from Universidad Metropolitana (Metropolitan University) in Venezuela.
Motselisi Molapo
Motselisi Molapo will join MTN on January 2019 to take up the position of a new executive for group internal audit and forensics.
She is from Liberty Holdings, where she was the chief audit executive.
Before holding this position, she served in senior roles at AngloGold Ashanti and PwC.
She has more than 18 years of experience in the audit environment across multiple industries, having worked in South Africa and the USA.
Motselisi Molapo is a chartered accountant and has a Bachelor of Commerce Honours Degree from the University of Natal and a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting and Commercial Law Degree from Rhodes University.
In her new role, Molapo will be responsible for delivering independent third line assurance to the MTN group executives and board, focusing on the adequacy and effectiveness of the group’s governance, risk management and system of internal control.
Nompilo Morafo
Nompilo Morafo has been appointed as the executive for group corporate services and sustainability, effective 1 February 2019.
Morafo joins MTN from LafargeHolcim, where she was the country director for communications and public affairs.
Prior to joining LafargeHolcim, she held the role of VP for country management and public affairs for Sasol’s international exploration and production.
In her new role, she will be responsible for managing MTN’s reputation in the marketplace, through the coordination of the corporate communication, public affairs, sustainability, events and sponsorship, and corporate social investment functions across the company’s footprint.
She holds a Bachelor of Technology Degree in Business Communication from Tshwane University of Technology, a National Diploma in Business Communication from Pretoria Technikon and a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Management from Henley Business School.
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