Shuter, Vodafone’s top executive, named MTN CEO

Rob Shuter, the current chief executive officer (CEO) of the European cluster at Vodafone Group, has been appointed as the new president and CEO of MTN Group.

Shuter takes over from Phuthuma Nhleko‚ who stepped as chairman and CEO after the resignation of Sifiso Dabengwa in November.

Dabengwa quit after the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) imposed a fine of N1.4 trillion on MTN over its failure to disconnect 5.2 million unregistered SIM cards.

After eight months of start-and-stop negotiations, the company reached the deal to pay N330 billion, one-third of the original penalty.

The telecommunications outfit confirmed the appointment of Shuter in a statement issued on Monday.

“Rob‚ a South African national‚ is the current CEO of the European cluster at Vodafone Group and has extensive experience in telecoms and banking‚ having held senior management roles at Vodacom Group‚ Standard Bank and Nedbank prior to joining Vodafone Group‚” MTN said in a statement.

“MTN is confident that Rob will bring experience and new insights to the chief executive role having had many years in the telecoms sector both in Africa and Europe as well as in banking where his expertise will help as MTN continues to develop its new business strategy.”

The statement said Shuter will only join MTN next year and at the latest in July 2017.

MTN also announced that it had appointed Godfrey Motsa as vice-president for south and east Africa. Motsa will join the company on July 1.

“Godfrey joins [MTN] from Vodacom where he was chief officer for consumer business. He brings 10 years of experience of telecoms in the region to MTN,” the statement read.

The company also said it was in the process of refreshing its board with a view to improving its risk and governance profile.

MTN said Nhleko would remain MTN chairman for the next two-and-a-half years, when he plans to step down.