JSE-listed telecommunications group MTN has made sweeping changes to its top management structure, doing away with its regional vice-president positions and creating a new position of group chief operating executive, to be headed by Ahmad Farroukh.

Farroukh, a former CEO of MTN’s Nigerian operation who is currently vice-president of the West and Central Africa region, will take on the new role on 1 April. He joined MTN in 2006 following the acquisition of Investcom.

Under the new structure, seven operating company CEOs will report into Farroukh. They are the head of MTN Irancell and the leaders of MTN’s operations in Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Afghanistan, Syria, Cameroon and Uganda. The CEOs of the SA and Nigerian businesses will report directly to MTN group president and CEO Sifiso Dabengwa. They will also serve on the group executive committee as full members.

As part of the shake-up in reporting structures, a new operations executive role has been created, a position that must still be filled. The person who takes on this role will be responsible for the rest of MTN’s operations: Cyprus, Guinea-Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, Botswana, Rwanda, Benin, Congo-Brazzaville, Liberia, Sudan, Swaziland, Yemen and Zambia.

With the consolidation of the regional structures, current South East Africa vice-president Ignatius Sehoole will take on a new role in the group business risk management division. — Staff reporter, TechCentral