An ex-Ernst & Young and Vodafone veteran has joined African telecommunications infrastructure provider IHS as its chief commercial officer (COO).

Forty-three-year old Rhys Phillip joins the Nigerian-headquartered IHS from Ernst & Young LLP, where he was partner and global head of transaction advisory services for the telecommunications sector.

IHS says Phillip has experience in advising tower businesses on African transactions since 2007 – with him having particularly focused on deals in Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda.

IHS further says that at Ernst & Young, Phillip also led cross-border transactions for leading operators, infrastructure businesses, financial investors and managed service providers.

And prior to Ernst & Young, IHS adds that Phillip led merger and acquisition transactions in-house for Vodafone and the BT Group.

Phillip qualified as a chartered accountant with Price Waterhouse, following a law degree from Cambridge University.

IHS owns and manages over 9,000 mobile network tower sites across Africa. The business recently secured two deals to own and manage MTN and Orange France Telecom’s tower portfolios in Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire.

“Rhys has been one of the most impressive experts on African infrastructure in the market for years,” says Issam Darwish, chief executive officer of IHS, in a statement.

Commenting on his appointment, Rhys Phillip said in a statement:“IHS’ recent deals with Orange in Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire highlight the dynamism of the management team and the momentum they have created for IHS, Nigeria’s most exciting telecommunications infrastructure provider. The focus on providing cutting edge technology solar energy innovations in addition to terrific growth over the last 18 months makes me very proud to join Issam's team and I am thrilled to be part of IHS’ continued growth story and increase the tower portfolio while attracting supportive investors.”