Investigation: MTN Board finds no evidence of improper conduct against CEO, Ralph Mupita​

The board of directors of African telecommunications giant, MTN Group has said it is closing an investigation into its CEO, Ralph Mupita after it found no evidence of improper conduct.

Recall that we reported that MTN Group said it’s probing issues of alleged favouritism by the CEO after an unspecified number of executives threatened to quit, complaining about Mupita allegedly giving preferential treatment to a female executive.

MTN’s board is “engaged in a verification process in relation to the allegations raised and once this process has been completed” it will deliberate and communicate as appropriate with stakeholders, the company said in response to questions yesterday.

This morning, the board, in a statement to shareholders via the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) “expressed its full support” for Mupita and MTN’s strategy. “In its deliberations, the board accepted the report finding and is of the view that the matter has been addressed and is now closed”, the statement said.

“MTN shareholders are advised that the group board held a special meeting on Wednesday, 4 September to deliberate on a report by an independent law firm, assisted by counsel, tasked to verify allegations contained in an anonymous complaint against members of the MTN executive. The independent report stated that attempts to engage with the complainant were unsuccessful and found that there was no evidence of improper conduct by those cited in the complaint,” the statement concluded.

The statement comes six days after the Sunday Times reported that an unspecified number of executives had threatened to resign after complaining that Mupita allegedly gave preferential treatment to a female executive.

MTN’s leadership crisis: a background to the story

At the beginning of the week, the Sunday Times reported that Tensions are heating up at the MTN Group corporate headquarters as clash with group CEO Ralph Mupita over the direction of the company.

This is coming amid accusations of favouritism and a lack of accountability, several executives are threatening to resign in protest against his leadership style. According to a report, Mupita tried to transfer some functions that fall under the purview of MTN South Africa’s CEO, Charles Molapisi to the unnamed female executive.

Concerns over Mupita’s relationship with the female executive were reportedly the subject of an anonymous whistleblower complaint and discussed at a group board meeting earlier this year.

The complaint also stated that a culture of fear permeates the company. The report also hinted that four big investors had started to work together to remove Mupita as group CEO because of the value destruction at the company.

Mupita, earlier this week, sent a letter to staff assuring them that MTN has governance processes in place to address employee matters, including those concerning senior leadership. “The group board is going through the necessary processes to understand the matters and will address them,” he explained.

In a contrary move, Bloomberg News reported yesterday that unnamed sources with knowledge of the situation claimed that nine of MTN’s executives had signed a memorandum backing Mupita. The company has 15 executives, excluding Mupita, according to the company’s website.

Hopefully, the conclusion of the board provide answers to questions about Mupita’s leadership, end its leadership crisis and restore the confidence of its investors.

The post Investigation: MTN Board finds no evidence of improper conduct against CEO, Ralph Mupita first appeared on Technext.

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The board of directors of African telecommunications giant, MTN Group has said it is closing an investigation into its CEO, Ralph Mupita after it found no evidence of improper conduct.

Recall that we reported that MTN Group said it’s probing issues of alleged favouritism by the CEO after an unspecified number of executives threatened to quit, complaining about Mupita allegedly giving preferential treatment to a female executive.

MTN’s board is “engaged in a verification process in relation to the allegations raised and once this process has been completed” it will deliberate and communicate as appropriate with stakeholders, the company said in response to questions yesterday.

This morning, the board, in a statement to shareholders via the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) “expressed its full support” for Mupita and MTN’s strategy. “In its deliberations, the board accepted the report finding and is of the view that the matter has been addressed and is now closed”, the statement said.

“MTN shareholders are advised that the group board held a special meeting on Wednesday, 4 September to deliberate on a report by an independent law firm, assisted by counsel, tasked to verify allegations contained in an anonymous complaint against members of the MTN executive. The independent report stated that attempts to engage with the complainant were unsuccessful and found that there was no evidence of improper conduct by those cited in the complaint,” the statement concluded.

The statement comes six days after the Sunday Times reported that an unspecified number of executives had threatened to resign after complaining that Mupita allegedly gave preferential treatment to a female executive.

MTN’s leadership crisis: a background to the story

At the beginning of the week, the Sunday Times reported that Tensions are heating up at the MTN Group corporate headquarters as clash with group CEO Ralph Mupita over the direction of the company.

This is coming amid accusations of favouritism and a lack of accountability, several executives are threatening to resign in protest against his leadership style. According to a report, Mupita tried to transfer some functions that fall under the purview of MTN South Africa’s CEO, Charles Molapisi to the unnamed female executive.

Concerns over Mupita’s relationship with the female executive were reportedly the subject of an anonymous whistleblower complaint and discussed at a group board meeting earlier this year.

The complaint also stated that a culture of fear permeates the company. The report also hinted that four big investors had started to work together to remove Mupita as group CEO because of the value destruction at the company.

Mupita, earlier this week, sent a letter to staff assuring them that MTN has governance processes in place to address employee matters, including those concerning senior leadership. “The group board is going through the necessary processes to understand the matters and will address them,” he explained.

In a contrary move, Bloomberg News reported yesterday that unnamed sources with knowledge of the situation claimed that nine of MTN’s executives had signed a memorandum backing Mupita. The company has 15 executives, excluding Mupita, according to the company’s website.

Hopefully, the conclusion of the board provide answers to questions about Mupita’s leadership, end its leadership crisis and restore the confidence of its investors.

The post Investigation: MTN Board finds no evidence of improper conduct against CEO, Ralph Mupita first appeared on Technext.

 The board of directors of African telecommunications giant, MTN Group has said it is closing an investigation into…
The post Investigation: MTN Board finds no evidence of improper conduct against CEO, Ralph Mupita first appeared on Technext.  

The board of directors of African telecommunications giant, MTN Group has said it is closing an investigation into its CEO, Ralph Mupita after it found no evidence of improper conduct.

Recall that we reported that MTN Group said it’s probing issues of alleged favouritism by the CEO after an unspecified number of executives threatened to quit, complaining about Mupita allegedly giving preferential treatment to a female executive.

MTN’s board is “engaged in a verification process in relation to the allegations raised and once this process has been completed” it will deliberate and communicate as appropriate with stakeholders, the company said in response to questions yesterday.

This morning, the board, in a statement to shareholders via the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) “expressed its full support” for Mupita and MTN’s strategy. “In its deliberations, the board accepted the report finding and is of the view that the matter has been addressed and is now closed”, the statement said.

“MTN shareholders are advised that the group board held a special meeting on Wednesday, 4 September to deliberate on a report by an independent law firm, assisted by counsel, tasked to verify allegations contained in an anonymous complaint against members of the MTN executive. The independent report stated that attempts to engage with the complainant were unsuccessful and found that there was no evidence of improper conduct by those cited in the complaint,” the statement concluded.

The statement comes six days after the Sunday Times reported that an unspecified number of executives had threatened to resign after complaining that Mupita allegedly gave preferential treatment to a female executive.

MTN’s leadership crisis: a background to the story

At the beginning of the week, the Sunday Times reported that Tensions are heating up at the MTN Group corporate headquarters as clash with group CEO Ralph Mupita over the direction of the company.

This is coming amid accusations of favouritism and a lack of accountability, several executives are threatening to resign in protest against his leadership style. According to a report, Mupita tried to transfer some functions that fall under the purview of MTN South Africa’s CEO, Charles Molapisi to the unnamed female executive.

Concerns over Mupita’s relationship with the female executive were reportedly the subject of an anonymous whistleblower complaint and discussed at a group board meeting earlier this year.

The complaint also stated that a culture of fear permeates the company. The report also hinted that four big investors had started to work together to remove Mupita as group CEO because of the value destruction at the company.

Mupita, earlier this week, sent a letter to staff assuring them that MTN has governance processes in place to address employee matters, including those concerning senior leadership. “The group board is going through the necessary processes to understand the matters and will address them,” he explained.

In a contrary move, Bloomberg News reported yesterday that unnamed sources with knowledge of the situation claimed that nine of MTN’s executives had signed a memorandum backing Mupita. The company has 15 executives, excluding Mupita, according to the company’s website.

Hopefully, the conclusion of the board provide answers to questions about Mupita’s leadership, end its leadership crisis and restore the confidence of its investors.