MTN South Africa has a new CEO. Chief financial officer Zunaid Bulbulia will take the reins at the telecommunications operator from Karel Pienaar, who has been named as chief strategy officer at the MTN group.

Pienaar’s appointment will see MTN’s mergers and acquisitions and strategy functions being separated, with Khumo Shuenyane focusing on M&A and international business development, the group says in a statement.

“As group chief strategy officer, Pienaar will be responsible for overseeing MTN strategy across its 22 operations,” the group says. “A founding member of MTN, Pienaar has served the group in various leadership roles, including as group chief technology and information office and CEO of MTN Nigeria.”

Bulbulia has 19 years telecoms experience, and is also a founding member of MTN. He was appointed as chief financial officer of MTN SA in 2005. “As CEO, he is tasked with bolstering MTN’s competitive position in the South Africa market.”

MTN group CEO Sifiso Dabengwa says both Pienaar and Bulbulia are experienced executives who understand MTN’s business priorities and challenges.