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Q & A with the group president and CEO
Q
You’ve been at the helm since March 2017, what was your mandate?
A
The mandate from the board was firstly to stabilise the executive team and secondly to do a
strategic review. This included establishing what the next phase of MTN is to be: what the
opportunities are and the best way to take advantage of them, as well as the resources and skills
we need to do that. That’s spelt out in our BRIGHT strategy (see page 6). There was also a
requirement to set a comprehensive financial plan for the group: determining the returns MTN
can generate, the investment required, and the ideal capital structure. Ultimately, this determines
the appropriate dividend policy (see the Q & A with the CFO). The mandate also included a
portfolio review: not just of themarkets inwhichMTNoperates, but also of the group’s investments.
Q
What did you conclude from the portfolio review?
A
Firstly that our geographic regions, Africa and Middle East, are among the fastest growing across
the world. Secondly, within that we are represented in most of the large economies in that region
and thirdly, we have strong positions in all our markets (either #1 or #2 positions). So generally,
we are in good shape and the main thrust is to further improve the operational performance in
these markets.
Having said that, we also need to continually monitor the regulatory, macro-economic and
competitive environments in the markets and make sure that investments or further funding
commitments meet our investment and return criteria. We operate in a number of markets that
are in a state of conflict and there our approach has been to ensure that these markets are self-
funding.
Creating
brighter lives
Rob Shuter,
group president and CEO
30
MTN Group Limited
Integrated Report 2017