Ng’ambi, who currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of MTN Côte d’Ivoire, will join MTN Group’s Executive Committee and assume her new role no later than September 1, 2026. Her appointment comes at a significant moment for the telecommunications giant as it advances its newly launched Ambition 2030 strategy, aimed at accelerating digital and financial inclusion across Africa.
Announcing the appointment, MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita described the move as an important step in the company's long-term growth agenda.
“Mitwa will lead MTN’s people and culture agenda at a pivotal time in our Ambition 2030 journey. She will take the reins from Paul, who will retire after a stellar career at MTN and having made a significant contribution to the business over almost three decades,” Mupita said.
Leadership Reshuffle Across MTN Operations
Ng’ambi’s elevation to the Group Executive Committee has triggered a broader leadership reshuffle within MTN’s African operations.
She will be succeeded as CEO of MTN Côte d’Ivoire by Abbad Reda, who currently leads MTN Zambia. Reda’s position in Zambia will, in turn, be filled by Larry Annetts, a veteran MTN executive whose most recent assignment was serving as Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Commercial Officer on secondment to Irancell.
All three appointments are expected to take effect no later than September 1, 2026.
Mupita expressed confidence in the incoming leaders, highlighting the strength of MTN’s internal talent pipeline and succession planning framework.
“I would like to congratulate Mitwa, Abbad and Larry on their appointments and wish them well in their work to deliver on our strategic ambition under Ambition 2030. Paul has made an invaluable contribution to MTN success, and we will have an opportunity to thank him and celebrate this in the second half,” he said.
Internal Talent Driving Ambition 2030
The appointments come just months after MTN unveiled Ambition 2030, a refreshed five-year strategy designed to position the company for sustained growth across its markets. The strategy is built on the belief that significant opportunities remain in expanding digital connectivity, financial services, and technological innovation throughout the continent.
According to the Group, selecting all three executives from within its ranks underscores both the depth of leadership talent available internally and the effectiveness of its succession planning efforts.
Ng’ambi Brings Extensive Pan-African Experience
Ng’ambi assumes her new Group role with more than 15 years of senior leadership experience across Africa’s telecommunications sector. Her career has spanned multiple markets, including Zambia, Benin, Senegal, Ghana, Rwanda, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire.
She has previously held chief executive positions at MTN Cameroon, MTN Rwanda, Airtel Tigo Ghana and Tigo Senegal, building a reputation for leading business turnarounds, overseeing organisational restructuring, driving market repositioning strategies and managing merger integrations. She has also spearheaded several digital transformation and artificial intelligence-driven initiatives across different markets.
Her appointment signals MTN’s growing emphasis on people, culture and organisational transformation as key enablers of its future growth plans.
Reda and Annetts Bring Proven Track Records
Incoming MTN Côte d’Ivoire CEO Abbad Reda is widely regarded as a results-driven executive with extensive experience across MTN operations. In addition to his leadership role in Zambia, he has held senior positions in Afghanistan, Liberia and Ghana.
Throughout his career, Reda has earned recognition for revitalising business operations, promoting innovation and consistently exceeding performance targets. He is also known for championing customer-centric strategies that have contributed to revenue growth, increased market share and improved profitability.
Meanwhile, Larry Annetts brings nearly three decades of experience within the MTN Group to his new role as CEO of MTN Zambia.
Having spent over 29 years with the organisation, Annetts has played a pivotal role in driving commercial growth, product innovation and digital transformation across several markets. His experience includes leadership assignments at MTN South Africa and MTN Nigeria, where he was credited with delivering significant business transformation through disciplined execution and a strong focus on customer experience.
With the latest appointments, MTN is positioning itself to strengthen leadership continuity and execute its Ambition 2030 strategy while nurturing a new generation of executives capable of steering the company through Africa’s rapidly evolving digital landscape.