MTN coup as Jonas signs up
THE MTN Group announced the appointment of former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas yesterday to its board as an independent non-executive director.
Swazi Tshabalala‚ executive director of consulting and investment holding company Barbican Advisory Group‚ was also appointed in the same capacity.
Both appointments are effective from June 1.
“As we continue to steer our business into a new trajectory of execution excellence‚ I believe their arrival will further enrich the diversity and experience of the board‚” MTN Group chairman Phuthuma Nhleko said.
The company said Tshabalala and Jonas would bring extensive board and senior management experience to their new roles‚ having served on numerous boards in the private and public sectors over many years.
Jonas‚ 58‚ holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and Sociology from Vista University and a Higher Diploma in Education from Rhodes University. He served as deputy finance minister from 2014 to last year.
Before his appointment to the national government‚ Jonas played a key leadership role in Eastern Cape.
He served as MEC responsible for Finance‚ as well as Economic Development‚ Environmental Affairs and Tourism in the province.
He also served as CEO of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation.
Other roles include his time as CEO of the Centre for Investment and Marketing in the Eastern Cape‚ where he developed the investment-promotion agenda for the province.
He is also a former chairman and non-executive director of the Public Investment Corporation.
Jonas is at present serving as one of four independent presidential investment envoys‚ appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to attract investors to South Africa. Tshabalala‚ 52‚ holds an MBA from the Babcock School of Management‚ Wake Forest University‚ in the US‚ MTN said.
She was part of the Oxford Fintech Programme.
She had more than 20 years of professional experience in finance‚ risk management‚ treasury and general management‚ MTN said.
“Her experience was gained over a diverse range of institutions in state-owned companies and the private sector‚ and a diversity of sectors‚ including transportation and logistics‚ infrastructure and financial services.
“She also has extensive transaction experience in various African countries and globally.”
Tshabalala is a non-executive director of Tiger Brands and South African Airways.
She was until recently a non-executive director of the Standard Bank Group and the Centre for Scientific and Industrial Research.