MTN Group has appointed Saim Yaksan as Executive for Group Transformation, effective immediately.
Yaksan’s appointment follows the launch of MTN’s holistic transformation programme, IGNITE, in the third quarter of 2016. IGNITE is about shaping the future MTN, by proactively introducing special measures to accelerate the company’s business and financial performance. The measures will make the organisation more agile, and the business more sustainable, efficient, innovative and profitable.
The programme started in MTN’s largest operations – South Africa and Nigeria – and will be progressively rolled out to other operations.
As head of the IGNITE programme, Yaksan will lead development and execution of special initiatives aimed at accelerating business and financial performance.
Yaksan brings a diverse set of international business experiences to the role, having held various management positions across Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the United Arab Emirates. Prior to this appointment, he was the Executive for Supply Chain Management in MTN Group’s Procurement department. In this role, he was responsible for the company’s procurement transformation initiative, and was pivotal in setting up Global Sourcing Companies in Dubai.
He has a Business Management degree and Diplom-Kaufmann from the University of Cologne in Germany, with specialisation in Marketing and Market Research, Trade and Distribution.
Yaksan will be complemented by Debbie Minnaar and Olubayo Adekanmbi, who will lead transformation offices in South Africa and Nigeria respectively.
