MTN Group has announced a series of key leadership changes affecting its operations in West Africa. The Chief Technical Officer of MTN Nigeria, Mohammed Rufai, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of MTN Congo-Brazzaville.
This reshuffling will also see the current CEO of MTN Congo-Brazzaville, Ayham Moussa, transition to the role of Chief Operations Officer (COO) at MTN Nigeria.
According to the group’s statement, Rufai will assume his new position in Congo-Brazzaville on September 1, 2024, while Moussa is set to begin his role in Nigeria on August 19, 2024. This change follows the voluntary early retirement of MTN Côte d’Ivoire CEO Djibril Ouattara and the departure of MTN Nigeria COO Hassan Jabber.
MTN Group highlighted Rufai’s extensive experience in the ICT sector, spanning over 24 years, and his significant contributions to the telecommunications industry. Rufai joined MTN Nigeria in 2002 and later moved to MTN Ghana, where he was appointed Chief Technical Officer in 2015. He has also served in various senior roles within the MTN Group, including Regional CTIO for Southeast Africa and Ghana, and currently sits on the Board of Directors for Bayobab (Nigeria) and MTN Benin. Rufai is recognized for his dedication to execution excellence, people development, and customer experience. He holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Computer Science and has completed advanced management programs at Lagos Business School, Cranfield University, and the University of Cambridge.
Ayham Moussa will be taking over from Hassan Jabber as the COO of MTN Nigeria. Moussa, who first joined MTN in 2002 and returned in 2006 after a brief hiatus, has served in various markets, including Syria and Guinea-Conakry. His senior roles have included Chief Information Officer, Chief Technical and Information Officer, and CEO of MTN Congo-Brazzaville. Under his leadership, MTN Congo-Brazzaville transitioned from 2G to 4G technology and became recognized as a technology leader in West and Central Africa. His team’s efforts garnered awards for the best network in the region and for the MTN Group.
MTN Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita commended Djibril Ouattara for his nearly nine years of service, during which he played a critical role in building the business in Congo-Brazzaville and turning around MTN Côte d’Ivoire. Mupita also praised Hassan Jabber for his 22 years of dedication to the Group, including his tenure as CEO in markets such as Sudan, Guinea-Conakry, and Afghanistan.
