MTN South Africa has announced a sweeping leadership reshuffle as it gears up for its next phase of growth, fresh off a return to profit in the first half of 2025 with net income of 9.75 billion rand ($555 million).

The changes put Ferdi Moolman at the helm as CEO of MTN South Africa.

Moolman, well known for steering MTN Nigeria through turbulent years between 2016 and 2021, brings a proven record of navigating regulatory hurdles and driving customer growth.

His task now is to strengthen MTN’s position in its fiercely competitive home market against rivals Vodacom and Telkom.

He succeeds Charles Molapisi, who shifts back into his former role as Group Chief Technology and Information Officer.

Rather than a step down, Molapisi’s focus is now on spearheading AI integration across MTN’s operations, from customer service and network optimization to employee productivity—positioning him as a key architect of the group’s digital future.

The shake-up also sees Yolanda Cuba, currently head of MTN’s Southern and East Africa markets, appointed Deputy CEO of MTN South Africa.

Working alongside Moolman, she is expected to play a central role in accelerating growth and pushing bold new strategies for the business.

For South Africa, the reset comes at a critical moment. MTN’s half-year results showed a net income of R9.75 billion ($555 million), a sharp reversal from last year’s R7.39 billion loss driven by currency troubles in Nigeria and Ghana. With the business back in the black, management appears determined to capitalize on the momentum.