Selorm Adadevoh assumes new role as MTN Group COO

Former MTN Ghana CEO, Selorm Adadevoh, has since April 2, 2024 reported to post in South Africa where he will be stationed as the Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of the MTN Group.

His appointment to the new role was first announced on December 6, 2023, at the same time his replacement at MTN Ghana, Stephen Blewett was also introduced to Ghanaians.

Stephen Blewett officially took over the MTN Ghana top job on April 1, 2024 and Selorm reported to his new post a day after.

In his new role, Selorm said he will be focusing on the commercial strategy and new growth opportunities for the MTN Group across the Africa portfolio.

MTN Group’s Africa portfolio comprise of African 19 markets, a lot of which MTN is the market leader, including Ghana, where MTN is the only significant market power (SMP).

So, even though Selorm has left Ghana, the scope of his new role covers Ghana, just like his predecessor, Eben Asante, who is currently the MTN Group Senior Vice President, Markets, including Ghana.

In joining MTN Ghana and going to the MTN Group, Selorm has set three new records:

• The first ever outsider to have become MTN Ghana CEO
• The longest serving CEO in the history of MTN – six years without a break
• The first ever former MTN Ghana CEO to have been given a group-wide appoint without first having to take up a regional role. His predecessor was first given a regional portfolio (SEAGHA and WECA) before being made a Group Senior Vice President for Markets.

In six years, Selorm, who said his original charge for the MTN Ghana role was to ‘steer the ship safely and stabilize it’, ended up transforming the company tremendously, with very impressive top line numbers to show.

In six years, he made eight times the revenue and 12 times the profits of 2017, the year before he took over. Plus he paid 18 times the taxes compared to what MTN paid in 2017. That was a great feat that will go into the annals of MTN Ghana’s history.

Indeed, the MTN Ghana Board Chair, Ishmael Yamson described Selorm as “exceptional” saying that he has seen at least six MTN Ghana CEO, and he could tell Selorm was special.

In his word; “This guy called Selorm has done a great job at MTN Ghana. I am sad he is leaving, but I was also the first person to tell him to take the job because I am confident he will achieve over 10 times more than he did in Ghana.”

On his way out of Ghana, Selorm alluded to a nine-chapter book in the works, about his career journey, which relates to key events in his six-year journey as MTN Ghana CEO.

All of those experiences (the good, the bad and the ugly) contributed to the rousing and much-touted success he chalked over the period, and for that he expressed his profound gratitude to everyone who made it happen.

He is confident that his new role at the MTN Group is the beginning of Chapter 10 of his career journey and it will be a good one.

Several industry watchers have predicted that the achievements of Selorm at MTN Ghana, and his rise straight to a group-wide role, are signs that he is on his way to become Group President and CEO in the near future.

Techfocus24 wishes Selorm all the best in his new role, with great hopes that he will make Ghana proud, even much more than his predecessor, Eben Asante has and is still doing.

Source:techfocus24