MTN Group has announced the further appointment of executives as part of a review and finalisation of its permanent senior management team which has taken place throughout 2016.

The company explains that the appointment of new leadership, including those announced today, has taken place to ensure it is "well and appropriately capacitated to take advantage of opportunities presented by a rapidly changing sector."

The first of the latest appointments sees Jens Schulte-Bockum assume the position of Group Chief Operating Officer (COO), effective 16 January 2017.

Schulte-Bockum will succeed Jyoti Desai, who is retiring according to MTN.

"Jens has extensive operational experience in the mobile telecoms sector, with his last senior role being as CEO of Vodafone Germany between 2012 and 2015. We expect Jens to bring extensive experience in the consumer business, as well as the area of large scale transformation in a convergent operation,"added MTN in its announcement.

The second appointment is that of Oliver Fortuin who will assume the position of Executive Head of Business Enterprise, effective from 1 March 2017.

Fortuin is currently the CEO of BT Global Services Sub Saharan Africa, having previously held many senior roles at IBM, HP and Lenovo. As Head of BT Global Services, he was engaged in the development and sale of enterprise solutions to many multinationals across Africa.

The third appointment is of Bernice Samuels who has re-joined MTN as Group Executive of Marketing, effective 1 January 2017. Bernice was previously Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) in MTN SA, prior to assuming a similar role at FNB. She subsequently assumed the position of Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development at SABMiller in South Africa.

MTN says she will greatly assist in lifting and repositioning product development and uplifting the MTN brand to maintain its preeminent position in Africa and the Middle East, whilst adapting to a rapidly evolving sector.

Phuthuma Nhleko, Executive Chairman of the MTN Group has expressed confidence in the latest appointments.

"These senior management appointments bring to finality the management aspect of a large scale transformation and operational review process which I am confident will place the Group in good stead to capitalise on its many prospects and reach its full potential in a rapidly transforming and exciting sector. We have attracted individuals of high calibre and wide, relevant experience, to further enhance the existing management team, consistent with the anticipated trajectory of the Group.