Ex MTN exec becomes CEO of IHS South Africa

Sandile Msimango

Based in Johannesburg, Msimango will be leading IHS’ South African operations reporting directly to executive vice president group chief operating officer William Saad.

His appointment follows the announcement of IHS’ signed agreements to acquire 5,709 telecommunication towers in South Africa from Mobile Telephone Networks Proprietary (MTN), one of the biggest mobile telecommunications operators in South Africa.

Msimango has over twenty years’ experience in mergers and acquisitions (M&A), investing, corporate strategy implementation and execution.

He is a former MTN Group M&A executive where he specifically served as head of infrastructure investments and was instrumental in their towers’ monetisation strategy.

He began his investment banking career with Deutsche Securities and later Goldman Sachs International.

Most recently, he was the founder and managing partner of a strategic financial advisory consultancy and investment vehicle, Coombe Advisory, with offices in London and Dubai.

Sam Darwish, IHS Towers chairman and chief executive officer, said:

“Sandile’s appointment is an important step in our expansion into South Africa. On completion of our acquisition of MTN’s 5,709 towers, IHS will be the largest independent tower operator in the country. This marks the start of an exciting new chapter, and it is important that we have the most skilled executive leading these operations. Sandile brings that specialist telecommunications experience, and a deep knowledge of the South African market gained on-the-ground.”