MTN Group has appointed Jerry Soko as Chief Executive Officer of MTN Eswatini, effective 1 July 2026, confirming him in a role he has held on an acting basis for the past seven months.
The appointment builds on a series of leadership announcements MTN has made across its African footprint in the first half of the year, reinforcing the telecom giant’s commitment to strengthening its leadership bench as it executes its Ambition 2030 strategy. Soko’s confirmation follows a broader reshuffle that has already seen Abbad Reda named CEO of MTN Côte d’Ivoire, Larry Annetts appointed CEO of MTN Zambia, and Mitwa Ng’ambi elevated to Group Chief People and Culture Officer.
From Stabiliser To Permanent Chief
Soko stepped into the acting CEO role at MTN Eswatini in November 2025, after former chief executive Wandile Mtshali departed at the end of his five-year contract. According to Ralph Mupita, MTN Group President and CEO, Soko’s stint at the helm has already paid off.
“His track record, combined with his understanding of the company’s operations, positions him well to lead Eswatini into its next phase of growth,” Mupita said, crediting Soko with restoring momentum, strengthening operational discipline and deepening customer engagement during his interim tenure.
Soko is a seasoned telecommunications executive and qualified accountant with more than 20 years of leadership experience across Africa’s ICT sector. Before Eswatini, he held senior leadership roles across the MTN Group, including CEO and CFO positions in Zambia, South Sudan, Botswana and Rwanda, and he currently serves on several boards in a non-executive capacity.
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During his seven months as Acting CEO, Soko stabilised and repositioned MTN Eswatini for sustainable growth, driving an agenda anchored on network competitiveness, customer experience and disciplined execution. His leadership prioritised network resilience and reliability while embedding a more customer-centric culture across the organisation. He is also credited with strengthening operational efficiency, enhancing cash management, and fostering strategic partnerships that support Eswatini’s broader digital development ambitions.
A strong advocate for people and culture, Soko has cultivated a high-performance environment grounded in accountability, agility and collaboration, with particular emphasis on leadership development and succession planning.
Though Eswatini ranks among MTN’s smaller markets, it remains strategically significant. The business, operated as a joint venture with state-owned Eswatini Posts and Telecommunications Corporation, had just over 1 million subscribers as of March 2026 and controls close to 73% market share in the country, facing only one other operator, state-owned Eswatini Mobile.
As MTN continues its evolution from a connectivity provider into a platform business, leadership continuity and capability remain central to delivering on its strategic priorities of connectivity, fintech and digital infrastructure. Soko’s appointment underscores MTN’s preference for developing and promoting proven leaders from within its markets — a strategy the Group says allows it to leverage its scale and expertise to deliver inclusive digital progress across Africa.