Telecoms: Former Orange boss Stéphane Richard joins MTN’s board of directors
April 2nd 2026
South African group MTN continues to strengthen its governance with the arrival of Stéphane Richard, former CEO of Orange. This appointment illustrates the operator’s desire to rely on experienced professionals to support its new phase of growth in Africa.
MTN Group has announced the appointment of Stéphane Richard (pictured) as an independent non-executive director, effective March 31, 2026. Former chairman and CEO of Orange (2011-2022), the French executive will bring to the South African group extensive experience in telecommunications, managing large international groups and relations with regulators.
This arrival comes at a time when MTN is seeking to consolidate its position as a pan-African leader and accelerate its transformation. Present in several markets in Africa and the Middle East, the group is now focusing on development centered around connectivity, digital financial services, and technological infrastructure.
For MTN, the choice of Stéphane Richard is not insignificant. Under his leadership, Orange strengthened its presence in several African markets through the expansion of mobile networks, the development of data services, and the growth of Orange Money. The number of customers in the Africa and Middle East region increased from 74.6 million to nearly 140 million between 2011 and 2022.
Stéphane Richard’s continental experience is therefore an asset at a time when telecom operators have to deal with increased competition, heavy investments in networks and growing pressure on traditional voice revenues.
Strengthen governance, refine the strategy
Beyond the candidate’s profile, this appointment also sends a signal to the market. It reflects MTN’s desire to strengthen its strategic leadership at a time of profound transformation in the African telecommunications sector. Growth no longer relies solely on acquiring new subscribers, but increasingly on data monetization, the rise of fintech, cloud computing, data centers, and value-added digital services.
In this new environment, Stéphane Richard’s experience could allow MTN to refine its long-term strategy, particularly regarding governance, international partnerships, and regulatory dialogue. His network within the global telecommunications industry could also be a valuable asset in enhancing MTN’s attractiveness to investors.
This appointment also has symbolic significance. MTN welcomes to its board a figure long associated with Orange, one of its main competitors in several African markets. It illustrates the sector’s growing maturity, where governance and strategic issues are becoming as important as commercial performance.
However, the immediate operational impact of this appointment should be put into perspective. As a non-executive director, Stéphane Richard will not be involved in the day-to-day management of the group. His role will be more focused on strategic direction, oversight, and supporting management.
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