South African executive Charles Molapisi, Group Chief Technology and Information Officer of MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecom services provider, saw his total compensation at the end of 2025 skyrocket by 58.72% to $2.6 million, fueled by the exceptional financial performance of the telecom giant.

MTN profit recovery boosts Molapisi’s pay

Molapisi’s compensation for 2025 reached a substantial R41.8 million ($2.56 million), a significant leap from the R26.33 million ($1.61 million) he received the previous year.

This increase reflects the outstanding performance of MTN Group, which swung from a loss to a profit of R47.43 billion ($2.81 billion), marking one of the biggest financial recoveries in the company’s recent history.

Compensation driven by performance incentives
Molapisi’s 2025 compensation package comprised a base salary of R9.86 million ($604,526) and a performance-based short-term incentive of R11.25 million ($690,013), both attributed to MTN Group’s exceptional financial performance.

He also received a long-term incentive award of R20.69 million ($1.27 million) from Africa’s largest telecom services provider to acknowledge his strategic leadership and his wealth of expertise as a seasoned professional.

Molapisi’s career and leadership within MTN

Charles Molapisi has built a distinguished career within MTN Group, combining deep technical expertise with executive leadership across some of Africa’s most dynamic telecommunications markets. He joined MTN in 2009 and has since played a central role in shaping the Group’s technology strategy and operational evolution across multiple regions.

Over the years, Molapisi has held several senior leadership positions, including Chief Information Officer of MTN Nigeria and Chief Executive Officer of MTN Zambia, where he drove business growth, network expansion, and digital innovation in highly competitive environments. In January 2022, he was appointed Chief Executive Officer of MTN South Africa, one of the Group’s most strategic and mature markets, where he oversaw operational performance and customer-focused transformation initiatives.

In November 2025, Molapisi was elevated to Group Chief Technology and Information Officer, reflecting his longstanding contribution to MTN’s digital transformation journey. In this role, he is responsible for driving the Group’s technology vision, strengthening network infrastructure, and advancing innovation across its footprint.

Beyond his executive responsibilities, Molapisi has contributed to governance and strategic oversight through board roles across several MTN subsidiaries, including MTN Zambia, MTN Business Botswana, MTN Business Kenya, and MTN Business Namibia. His cross-market experience and leadership have been instrumental in aligning MTN’s technology capabilities with its broader ambition to deliver scalable digital solutions and sustain long-term growth in emerging markets.

MTN returned to profit of nearly $3 billion from loss
In 2025, the pan-African telecom giant delivered strong service revenue, reporting a 22.59% rise from R188 billion ($11.15 billion) to R226.71 billion ($13.45 billion), lifted by strong contributions from Nigeria, Ghana, and its home market, South Africa, contributing R51.09 billion ($3.03 billion) to the Group’s revenue. The group also swung from a loss to a profit of R47.43 billion ($2.81 billion), marking one of the biggest financial recoveries in the company’s recent history.

Balanced sheet shows strong growth as subscriber base exceeds 300 million

MTN expanded its subscriber base significantly during the year, adding 16.3 million customers to reach 307.2 million users across 16 markets.

Additionally, MTN Group’s total assets rose 15.51% to R498.71 billion ($29.58 billion) from R431.73 billion ($25.6 billion), while total equity advanced 23.38% to R169.73 billion ($10.07 billion) from R137.57 billion ($8.16 billion).