MTN Unites English-speaking and French-speaking Africa through a Shift in Leadership Strategy

MTN Group has reorganized its executive team to boost strategic growth throughout Africa, naming Karl Toriola, the current CEO of MTN Nigeria, as Vice President for Francophone Africa starting November 1, 2025. Toriola will continue to lead MTN Nigeria—the group’s largest and most profitable unit—while also managing operations in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, and Congo Brazzaville. This dual responsibility highlights MTN’s intent to use Toriola’s deep regional expertise to expand in Francophone markets, with a focus on enhancing connectivity, fintech, and digital infrastructure.

Toriola’s new role is part of a wider executive reshuffle aimed at making operations more efficient under three main pillars. Ralph Mupita, President and CEO of MTN Group, stated that these adjustments are intended to “accelerate the delivery of our strategy beyond 2025 and create more value for our stakeholders in the medium term.” With nearly 20 years at MTN, including senior positions in Congo Brazzaville, Cameroon, and West and Central Africa, Toriola is well-positioned to replicate the achievements of MTN Nigeria in Francophone territories.

Under Toriola’s leadership, MTN Nigeria reached a significant milestone by becoming the first African telecom company to surpass a N10 trillion market capitalization. The Nigerian subsidiary generates over a third of MTN Group’s total revenue and often pilots innovations that are later rolled out across Africa. Industry experts point out that Toriola’s combined roles support MTN’s plan to strengthen its leadership in rapidly growing markets, drawing on Nigeria’s experience with aggressive broadband rollout, fintech development, and infrastructure investment.

The restructuring also brings several other major appointments within MTN. Ferdi Moolman, a former CEO of MTN Nigeria, will now head MTN South Africa, while Charles Molapisi returns as Group Chief Technology and Information Officer, tasked with accelerating the adoption of AI. Group CFO Tsholofelo Molefe will be responsible for mergers and acquisitions, and Ebenezer Asante will oversee operations in Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, and other East African countries. These changes highlight MTN’s dedication to unified leadership and more effective capital deployment.

This leadership overhaul comes at a time of increasing competition and regulatory challenges in Africa’s telecom sector. Toriola’s expanded duties are expected to help tackle issues like high infrastructure costs and gaps in digital access in Francophone Africa. MTN’s Ambition 2025 strategy, now extended beyond its original timeframe, continues to prioritize connectivity, fintech, and digital infrastructure, with Toriola’s dual role serving as a key move to drive growth across both Anglophone and Francophone regions.