CEO: Digital Platform at MTN

Mission/ Core purpose of the Job
The CEO Digital Platform will be responsible for designing, implementing and maintaining the long-term growth and commercial strategy for Digital in MTN. At this point in time, the MTN Digital business portfolio is run in a hybrid way with functional oversight by the CEO Digital Platform at Group level and operational execution within each MTN operating company. As part of MTN’s strategy Ambition 25, the company is building the vertical messaging/content/ commerce platform Ayoba which will include access to the future digital services portfolio and evolve into an independent line of business. The CEO Digital Platform will therefore be accountable for a pro-forma P&L across all digital services in the OpCos and for the contribution of Digital to the success of Ayoba.

The CEO Digital Platform is responsible for the growth of digital service products and services and oversees business development opportunities. This entails defining the overall strategy and business plan and effective execution of the plans related to Digital Services, as measured by digital sector market share, and product revenue and product margin. The scope of accountability includes overall service/product development, business casing, execution and product lifecycle supporting roadmap definition, execution and performance management of existing products and services through the digital teams within operating companies.

This role is responsible to oversee and manage the following digital portfolios:

• Gaming
• Video & Music
• VAS & CRBT
• OTT Partnerships
• RMS business development
• Health & Education
• Advertising
• As part of the leadership team, the CEO is also responsible to contribute to the comprehensive MTN overall strategic goals, to achieve profitable growth, and to continuously improve the operations performance.

Key Performance Areas: Core, essential responsibilities / outputs of the position (KPA's)
Strategy Development and Implementation

• Lead the creation of the functional strategy in line with the overarching business goals
• Ensure effective implementation of the strategy by means of providing direction, structure, frameworks, models, plans and roadmaps
• Oversee regular review of the functional strategy and roadmap to ensure its alignment with the changing dynamics of the internal and external ecosystem
• Engage with OpCos and supporting internal stakeholders to develop, formulate a strategy and plan of execution in line with the overarching business goals and strategies as informed by Group / Opco Executives.
• Leverage MTN’s Digital services assets to drive success of the new Ayoba platform
• Ensure effective implementation of the strategy by means of providing direction, support, technical and commercial frameworks, models, roadmaps, partners, and products to the OpCos
• Drive the requirement specification for MTN’s evolving digital technology platforms and ensure delivery via the Group CTIO function and Opco CTIOs
• Identify and assess new opportunities for MTN Group / OPCOs in the Digital space
• Structure and negotiate differentiating partnerships with global and regional digital services leaders and drive roll-out of partnership-based propositions across the MTN Opco footprint

 Staff Leadership and Management

• Build and manage a high performing team by providing leadership, role clarity, training and career development
• Attract, retain and develop a high-performance team of business development, digital channels and services specialist and digital subject matter experts
• Continually develop a culture of strong collaboration and effective team working
• Orchestrate and lead the community of Digital leaders in MTN Opcos, strengthen the local capabilities and drive strategic and executional alignment
• Ensure open communication channels with staff and implement change management interventions where necessary
• Provide definition of roles, responsibilities, individual goals and performance objectives for the team
• Set KPIs and provide regular performance feedback through a well-defined and implemented performance review program
• Develop and implement a training plan in order to build and develop skills within the team
• Encourage knowledge transfer through the implementation of a knowledge transfer plan and drive continuous improvement philosophy through the knowledge transfer plan
• Performance manage resources in accordance with HR policy and legislation where necessary
• Actively participate in leadership team and develop skills of own team
• Promote a ‘MTN centric’ and ‘partnership approach’ to develop strong relationships with other working groups and ensure adherence to Group governance

Operational Delivery

 Functional Leadership:

As the functional leader of the Digital Services vertical, the CEO is accountable to:

• Establish, monitor, and align the direction, strategy and results of the Digital Services Vertical, collectively and as individual work areas
• Lead and drive an integrated global solution development and problem-solving philosophy
• Monitor true-value metrics to measure the impact and benefit of the function. Drive continuous improvement across all sub functions
• Generate visibility for the true-value contributions of the function within Group, Business Leaders and OpCos to drive greater service acceptance and adoption
• Identify and assess M&A and partnership opportunities for MTN in the Digital space
• Drive strategic initiatives as part of the overall MTN leadership

Job Requirements (Education, Experience and Competencies)
Education:

• Minimum of 4 year tertiary degree (Information Technology, Management, Marketing, Bachelors of science, Engineering or related field)
• MBA or Masters (advantageous)

Experience:

• Minimum 12-15 years of significant / relevant experience in Digital Services, Telecommunication, eCommerce, Internet or Media
• Minimum of 6 years of relevant experience in the Telecom Digital Services environment
• Minimum of 4 years of experience in senior executive management role
• Exceptional leadership and management skills; track record of developing a communication strategy, building relationships across teams and key stakeholders to achieve goals
• Significant experiences in driving innovation, change and new business with a multinational
• Relevant Executive management experience with a regional or global organization
• Track record in developing, building and implementing Digital Services in emerging markets
• Experience in ecommerce and electronic payment business is advantageous
• Entrepreneurial spirit, self-driven and ability to motivate a fast-paced team
• Worked across diverse cultures and geographies
• Pan Africa multi-cultural experience is advantageous
• Abreast of global mind-set and best practice
• English speaker. French, Portuguese, Zulu, Swahili, and other African languages a plus

Competencies:

Functional Knowledge:

• Digital Strategy formulation
• Digital Commercial and Value Proposition development
• Business Development
• Partnership and Alliance management
• Value Added Services
• Digital content, media and/or applications
• Digital Services and Channel Development
• Digital Regulations

 Skills

• Business Acumen
• Analytics and Interpretation
• Strategic Thinking
• Organizational Agility
• Digital mind-set
• Dealing with ambiguity and complexity
• Decision Making
• Conflict Management
• Negotiation
• Financial and Numerical
• Project Management
• People Management