Africa’s telecom MTN has appointed Ferdi Moolman as the new CEO of its South African operations, replacing Charles Molapisi. MTN reports strong financial recovery with first-half profits bouncing back after currency challenges.
Moolman Brings Nigeria Turnaround Experience to South Africa
Ferdi Moolman, currently MTN Group’s Chief Risk Officer, will take over as CEO and Executive Director of MTN South Africa from November 1, 2025. His appointment follows an impressive track record leading MTN Nigeria from 2015 to 2021, where he steered the company through regulatory challenges and market expansion.
During his tenure in Nigeria, Moolman transformed MTN’s largest subsidiary into a profit powerhouse. An experience that will prove valuable as South Africa faces competitive pressures and economic headwinds.
Charles Molapisi, who led MTN South Africa since 2022, will return to his previous role as Group Chief Technology and Information Officer. This will allow MTN to leverage Molapisi’s technical expertise and position Moolman to focus on commercial strategy and market expansion.
Strategic Reshuffle Aligns with Ambition 2025 Goals
The CEO change forms part of broader leadership restructuring as MTN accelerates its Ambition 2025 strategy. The company hopes to build Africa’s largest digital platform, expanding beyond traditional telecom services into fintech, digital commerce, and enterprise solutions.
MTN Group CEO Ralph Mupita emphasized that the changes will “support the accelerated execution of our strategy beyond 2025 as well as greater value creation for stakeholders.” The appointments come as MTN reports service revenue growth of 23.2% to R105.1 billion in the first half of 2025.
Yolanda Cuba has been named Deputy CEO of MTN South Africa, adding depth to the leadership team. The appointments demonstrate MTN’s commitment to developing internal talent while bringing fresh perspectives to key markets.
Financial Recovery Drives Leadership Confidence
MTN’s leadership changes coincide with strong financial performance after weathering currency volatility in 2024. The group returned to profitability in the first half of 2025, with EBITDA margins expanding by 7.1 percentage points to 44.2%.
The recovery has been driven by improved performance across MTN’s African operations, particularly in Nigeria where currency stability has supported profit growth. MTN South Africa contributed to this recovery with steady subscriber growth and expanded data services.
Moolman’s experience managing large-scale operations and regulatory relationships will be essential for navigating South Africa’s telecom ecosystem.
Industry Impact and Market Response
Moolman’s proven ability to manage complex operations and drive profitability makes him well-suited to lead MTN’s most important subsidiary.
MTN South Africa generates significant revenue for the group while serving as a testing ground for new services and technologies. Under Moolman’s leadership, the operation is expected to accelerate digital transformation initiatives and expand into new market segments.
Industry analysts view the appointment positively, citing Moolman’s track record of delivering results in challenging markets. His experience with regulatory environments and operational optimization positions him well to drive MTN South Africa’s next growth phase.
The announcement has been well-received by investors, with MTN shares maintaining stability as markets digest the leadership changes. The appointments are seen as evidence of strong succession planning and leadership development within the group.
