MTN Group says it has had a major reshuffle of “leadership structures” in the company. This includes the appointment of the current CEO of MTN Ghana, Michael Ikpoki as CEO of MTN Nigeria.

In an official statement, the Group President and CEO Sifiso Dabengwa said “the movements are a part of its talent management and leadership development, towards building a sustainable supply of leaders”.

Ikpoki who is regarded as a “seasoned business executive” joined MTN’s Nigerian unit in 2001 as a Regulatory Adviser, after a 6-year stint with Nigeria Communication Commission (NCC).

He was appointed CEO of the Ghanaian unit of the telecom company, after running as its Executive Sales and Distribution Channel from 2006.

Ikpoki replaces Brett Goschen, the new CFO of MTN Group, in Nigeria in what the group described “as a move bolster its leadership structures.”

Other appointments by the JSE-listed company include Serame Taukobong as CEO of MTN Ghana replacing Ikpoki, Brian Gouldie as new CMO of MTN SA, and Farhad Khan, who takes over from Gouldie as Chief Customer Sales and Distribution Officer at MTN SA. Philisiwe Sibiya, Executive who was in Group Finance, has also been appointed the new Chief Financial Officer of MTN SA.

The MTN Group started operations in Nigeria in May 2001 and is considered a leading emerging market operator with presence in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

As of April 2013, it had an estimated 197.4 million mobile subscribers.