AFRICA – MTN Group, a telecom company, has named Stephen Blewett, the current CEO of its operation in Benin, to lead its larger business in Cameroon and Uche Ofodile, the current CEO of MTN Liberia, will become the CEO of the Benin business.

“I would like to congratulate Stephen and Uche on their appointments,” said MTN Group president and CEO Rob Shuter.

“Both are renowned for harnessing the power of people to move businesses forward. This is evident in the significant improvements in employee engagement, as well as overall performance, at MTN’s operations in Benin and Liberia in the past few years.”

Karl Toriola, vice president for MTN’s West and Central Africa region, thanked Stephen and Uche for their commitment and contribution: “Under Stephen’s leadership, MTN Benin recorded double-digit revenue growth for three years running. Uche leaves a business with double-digit year-on-year revenue growth, enjoying a nine-point market share improvement against its competitor.”

Stephen has for five years led MTN Benin, an operation of 5,5 million subscribers. He replaces Hendrik Kasteel, who left the group in March. Since then, MTN Cameroon chief financial officer Ebenezer Bodylawson has been acting CEO, steering the operation of more than 10 million subscribers.

Uche joined MTN in 2018. Since then, she has repositioned MTN Liberia as a competitive player in the market and grown its customer base to 1,45 million. The group is in the process of appointing a new CEO for MTN Liberia and will make an announcement in this regard as soon as the process is finalised.

“Under Stephen’s leadership, MTN Benin recorded double digit revenue growth for three years running. Uche leaves a business with double digit year-on-year revenue growth, enjoying a nine-point market share improvement against its competitor,” said Karl Toriola, vice president for MTN’s West and Central Africa region, in a statement.

Blewett’s time in Benin has not been without incident. In 2017, he was ordered by the government to leave the West African country. He has been CEO of MTN Benin, an operation of 5.5 million subscribers, for the past five years.

His time in Benin has not been without incident. In 2017, he was ordered by the government to leave the West African country. This was after it emerged that the telecommunications regulator there was claiming US$213 million in spectrum fees. The dispute was subsequently resolved and Blewett returned to the country — but only six months after he was expelled.

In Cameroon, Blewett will replace Hendrik Kasteel, who left MTN Group in March. Since then, MTN Cameroon chief financial officer Ebenezer Bodylawson has been acting CEO, steering the operation of more than 10 million subscribers.

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