MTN Promotes Jerry Soko to Eswatini CEO, Leaning on Internal Talent

A Pattern of Internal Promotions

Soko's confirmation is not an isolated decision. As TechCabal reported, MTN filled three senior posts internally on June 2. Mitwa Ng'ambi, who led MTN Côte d'Ivoire, was elevated to Group Chief People and Culture Officer. That shift opened a chain of moves, with Abbad Reda transferring from MTN Zambia to head the Côte d'Ivoire business, and Larry Annetts stepping up to run MTN Zambia.

Group President and CEO Ralph Mupita framed those June appointments as evidence of the company's bench strength and succession planning. The approach echoes MTN's earlier Ambition 2025 plan, under which the group regularly filled vacancies through internal moves, including transfers between its Rwanda and South Sudan units.

Soko fits the same profile. A qualified accountant with more than two decades in telecommunications, he has held CEO and chief financial officer roles at several MTN operating companies, including Zambia, Botswana, Rwanda and South Sudan. MTN credited his seven-month stint as acting CEO with stabilising the Eswatini business, tightening operational discipline and improving customer engagement.

"Under Jerry's leadership, MTN Eswatini has regained strong momentum, improving performance, strengthening operational discipline, and deepening customer engagement," Mupita said in a statement quoted by TechCabal. He added that Soko's experience positions him to guide the unit through its next growth phase.

Why It Matters Beyond Eswatini

The leadership strategy is tied to MTN's Ambition 2030 plan, which aims to reshape the operator from a connectivity provider into a broader digital platform spanning fintech, cloud services and digital infrastructure. MTN is wagering that executives who understand the regulatory, commercial and competitive realities of multiple African markets are best suited to steer that transition.

During his time as acting chief, Soko reportedly focused on network resilience, efficiency and cash management, while forging partnerships intended to support Eswatini's digital economy. MTN also said he worked to embed stronger accountability and to develop future leaders within the subsidiary.

While Eswatini ranks among MTN's smaller operating units, the market remains relevant as African operators push beyond voice and data into mobile financial services, enterprise technology and cloud computing. For investors and partners tracking the Africa–Europe technology corridor, MTN's preference for grooming leaders internally suggests a continuity-focused approach to executing its long-term digital ambitions across the continent.

The British firm, chaired by a former GCHQ director, closed its Series A months after an $11M seed, as demand for sovereign-secure data tools rises across Europe.