MTN Group has announced two internal executive appointments, both taking effect in September 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen its leadership capacity while advancing the execution of its Ambition 2030 strategy.
Ashutosh Tiwary, Operations Executive: Francophone Markets
Tiwary steps into his new role on 1 September 2026, bringing over 27 years of telecommunications leadership experience across Africa and India, marked by a strong record of driving growth, transformation, operational excellence and business turnarounds in highly competitive markets.
Within MTN, he has held several senior leadership positions, beginning as GM: Prepaid Consumer Business in South Africa, where he played a key role in stabilising and growing the prepaid segment. He later served as Acting CEO of MTN Guinea Bissau, successfully delivering a business turnaround before supporting the eventual sale of the operation as part of a broader portfolio optimisation strategy.
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Most recently, as GM: Customer Operations, he worked with MTN Group’s Home Broadband Business team to build and scale customer operations through Operational Excellence programmes.
In his new role, Tiwary will serve as strategic and operational lead for MTN’s Francophone markets — Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and Congo Brazzaville — supporting delivery of strategic priorities, driving commercial and operational excellence, strengthening governance and enabling sustainable growth. He will also work closely with OpCo leadership teams to ensure alignment with Group priorities and support high-performance execution across the region.
His deep understanding of African telecom markets and proven transformation track record position him well to support continued growth across MTN’s Francophone operations.
Ikenna Ikeme, Executive: Group Regulatory Affairs
Ikeme takes up his new position on 7 September 2026, joining the Group’s regulatory leadership team with more than 30 years of experience spanning telecommunications, banking and insurance. He brings deep expertise in regulatory affairs, public policy, compliance, stakeholder engagement and business transformation, along with a strong track record of navigating complex regulatory landscapes.
He currently serves as General Manager: Regulatory Affairs at MTN Nigeria, where he is regarded as one of the country’s leading telecommunications regulatory professionals. Over his career, he has led or supported major industry initiatives, including regulatory approvals for spectrum transactions, national roaming arrangements, 5G licensing, infrastructure sharing and mobile virtual network operator partnerships — while also helping shape regulatory frameworks that support industry growth while protecting consumer and stakeholder interests.
In his new role, Ikeme will provide strategic leadership across MTN Group’s regulatory agenda, working closely with the Group Legal and Regulatory Affairs office and teams across MTN’s markets. His mandate will include strengthening regulatory governance, managing regulatory risk, driving policy advocacy, supporting strategic business initiatives, and building strong relationships with regulators and key stakeholders.
Ikeme holds an MBA from Enugu State University of Science and Technology, is a qualified Barrister-at-Law, has completed the Advanced Management Programme at MIT Sloan School of Management, and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (Europe).
Together, Tiwary’s and Ikeme’s appointments add further depth and experience to MTN Group’s operations and regulatory leadership, reinforcing its ability to navigate an increasingly dynamic and competitive operational and regulatory environment across Africa.
