MTN Group, Africa’s largest telecom operator, has appointed Jerry Soko as the chief executive officer of its Eswatini subsidiary, a move that solidifies the company’s ongoing strategy of filling top leadership roles from within its own ranks.

Soko takes the helm permanently on July 1. He has run the unit on an acting basis since November 2025, when former chief executive Wandile Mtshali stepped down at the end of his contract. MTN credited Soko with steadying the business, tightening spending controls and boosting customer sign-ups over the last seven months.

The appointment underscores how the Johannesburg-based company prefers to advance managers who understand its regional markets instead of hiring expensive external candidates. It also comes as MTN tries to shift from a legacy voice-and-data provider into a digital platform company focused on fintech and enterprise software.

Soko leads MTN Eswatini’s new era

“Under Jerry’s leadership, MTN Eswatini has regained strong momentum, improving performance, strengthening operational discipline, and deepening customer engagement,” said Ralph Mupita, MTN Group CEO. “His track record, combined with his understanding of our operations, positions him well to lead MTN Eswatini into its next phase of growth.”

During his months as interim head, Soko prioritized network upgrades and closer cost management. He also signed fresh partnerships aimed at expanding mobile money usage in the country. MTN said he focused heavily on clearing backlogs and training mid-level managers for future roles.

This internal promotion follows a pattern seen across MTN’s footprint this month. In June, the company shook up three other top jobs using existing staff: former MTN Côte d’Ivoire head Mitwa Ng’ambi became the group chief people officer, Abbad Reda moved from Zambia to run the Côte d’Ivoire business, and Larry Annetts took over the Zambia operation.

MTN talent playbook stabilizes executive rotations

Mupita previously noted that these rapid reassignments show the strength of the company’s executive talent pool. The corporate playbook mirrors earlier transitions under previous growth cycles, when MTN frequently swapped managers between its Rwanda and South Sudan business units to give them broader regulatory exposure.

Soko has spent more than 20 years in the telecom sector. An accountant by training, he previously served as chief executive and chief financial officer across several MTN markets, including Zambia, Botswana, Rwanda and South Sudan.

MTN Eswatini posts $7.1 million Q1 revenue

MTN Eswatini runs as a joint venture. The state-owned Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corp. holds a 41 percent stake, MTN Group owns 30 percent and Swaziland Empowerment Ltd. holds the remaining 19 percent. The subsidiary has 1.1 million subscribers. It brought in R116 million ($7.1 million) in revenue for the first quarter of 2026, following a full-year revenue of R442 million ($27 million) in 2025.

While Eswatini is one of MTN’s smaller geographic segments, the market serves as a testing ground for newer corporate banking tools and cloud computing services. Soko’s main task will be keeping those digital services growing without disrupting the local operation.