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Adekunle Awobodu takes on role left vacant when Ferdi Moolman stepped up to top job at Nigerian mobile operator.
Having reached a deal to settle its long-running fine dispute with the Nigerian government, MTN’s local unit has announced the appointment of a new chief financial officer.
Adekunle Awobodu, who has worked in the telco’s finance division for some years, will step up into the CFO role, becoming the first Nigerian to serve in that position, media outlet This Day reported.
Awobodu replaces Ferdi Moolman, who became chief executive officer of MTN Nigeria late last year.
He joins MTN’s senior executive team at a turbulent time for the telco.
MTN was hit with a US$5.2 billion fine from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in October for failing to follow rules regarding the disconnection of unregistered SIM cards. After lengthy negotiations – and the loss of MTN group CEO Sifiso Dabengwa, who stepped down over the issue last year – the company finally announced a deal with the government just over a week ago.
It now faces a bill of 330 million naira ($1.67 billion), payable in instalments over three years.
Awobodu’s qualifications include an advanced degree in finance. He also brings 22 years of experience to the post, having joined MTN Nigeria in 2002 from Proctor and Gamble Nigeria, where he served in various roles over an eight-year period.
