MTN Group Reshuffles Leadership Team Across Africa, Larry Annetts Emerges CEO, MTN Zambia

MTN Group has announced a significant wave of executive appointments across its African operations, reinforcing its commitment to nurturing continental leadership as it pushes forward with its Ambition 2025 strategy.

In a major succession move, Mitwa Ng’ambi has been appointed MTN Group Chief People and Culture Officer, joining the Group Executive Committee by September 2026. Ng’ambi, currently CEO of MTN Côte d’Ivoire, brings over 15 years of working with MTN, having previously led MTN Cameroon since 2022 and MTN Rwanda, where she successfully renewed the company’s license and spearheaded its listing on the Rwanda Stock Exchange. Prior to MTN, she held leadership positions at Airtel Tigo Ghana and Tigo Senegal.

Larry Annetts will replace Abbad Reda as MTN Zambia CEO. Annetts, an MTN veteran with 29 years at the company since 1995, previously served as Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Nigeria and Chief Consumer Officer before being sent to Irancell as Chief Marketing Officer.

Abbad Reda, currently the CEO of MTN Zambia, will become CEO of MTN Côte d’Ivoire. Reda joined MTN in 2002 and has held senior positions including Chief Information Officer for MTN Ghana and CEO of MTN Liberia, bringing over 20 years of experience driving market share and profit growth. He holds an Executive MBA from CEIBS and a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer and Communication Engineering.

These appointments come ahead of Paul Norman’s retirement later this year as Chief HR Officer, with Ng’ambi’s promotion announced officially on June 1, 2026, from MTN Group’s headquarters.

Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita stated that the changes “illustrate the depth of talent and experience we have across the Group. The changes will support the accelerated execution of our strategies as well as create greater value for stakeholders over the appointment tenures.” These appointments underscore MTN’s strategy of promoting internal African talent across its 20 markets.