- Cell C has welcomed two new members to its Board of Directors.
- Godfrey Motsa, the former CEO of MTN and Maya Makanjee, former leader of FinMark Trust will be joining its directors.
- Motsa departed MTN in 2021, giving no reason for why he left the telecom. Cell C calls him a “turnaround specialist.”
Godfrey Motsa, the former CEO of MTN South Africa, has joined the board of directors of rival telecom Cell C. Motsa is one of two new additions to the board that Cell C announced on Wednesday.
He is joined by former CEO of FinMark Trust, Maya Makanjee, in a bid for the telecom to begin accelerating growth and building investor confidence.
Cell C, which only has an interim CEO after the surprise resignation of Douglas Craigie Stevenson in March 2023, has for the past several years been waging a war to turn poor profits around. During its recapitalisation last year, it sold nearly 50 percent of its business to Blue Label Telecom.
“We are thrilled to welcome Maya and Godfrey to our board,” said Cell C Board Chairman, Joe Mthimunye.
“Their impressive track records and diverse experiences will strategically guide Cell C into the future. Maya’s expertise in stakeholder engagement, corporate citizenship, and sustainable development, coupled with Godfrey’s transformative leadership and market insights, will accelerate our growth, and reinforce our position as a serious contender in the telecommunications industry. This move underscores our commitment to South Africa and our dedication to delivering exceptional value to our stakeholders,” Mthimunye added.
Motsa has over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry and the financial services sector. He left MTN SA as its leader in 2021, giving no indication of why he was leaving the company. He was succeeded by Charles Molapisi.
Cell C calls him “the turnaround specialist for MTN South Africa” and describes how he turned MTN into the “most profitable Telco in the market.”
“His appointment to Cell C’s board signals a new era of growth and strategic direction, instilling confidence in the investor community,” Cell C says in a press release sent to us.
Maya Makanjee currently serves as an independent non-executive director on several boards, both in the public and private sectors, as well as non-profit organisations.
Cell C recently finalised its transition from physical telecommunications towers. It will now operate using infrastructure from MTN via a virtual radio access network. This initiative was part of another cost-cutting measure, as running tower infrastructure, especially during loadshedding, continues to ramp up spending.
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