Irene Charnley – Chief Executive Officer

Irene brings a wealth of strategic, business development and operational experience in the telecommunications arena gained from her top executive positions held within the MTN Group.

She was instrumental in negotiating and acquiring the second GSM licence in the Islamic Republic of Iran and in securing one of four GSM licences in Nigeria. She also successfully negotiated and concluded acquisitions of operations in Côte D’Ivoire, Congo Brazzaville and Zambia. In addition, she identified other value enhancing acquisition opportunities including Investcom, a company with operations in 10 countries, primarily in the MENA region.

Irene also spearheaded several strategic MTN Group initiatives such as MTN Banking, a 50% joint venture with a national bank. She was instrumental in negotiating and securing financing for an 18.8% management buy-in into the MTN Group, representing one of the largest black empowerment deals at the time.

Prior to MTN, Irene was an Executive Director of Johnnic Holdings, an industrial conglomerate. In this position, Irene was responsible for the strategy which ultimately lead to Johnnic Holdings becoming a focused media, entertainment and telecommunications business.

She also negotiated a series of acquisitions and asset swaps which resulted in Johnnic acquiring M-Cell (now MTN Group Limited). She achieved a full listing of MTN Holdings through M-Cell Limited, and played a leading role in its transformation into one of the pre-eminent black empowered companies on the JSE through chairing the M-Cell Board and the respective HR and Remuneration Committees.

Irene achieved the successful closure for the Ikageng share scheme in Johnnic, a first time, share ownership scheme for disadvantaged South African individuals, which provided approximately 32,000 small shareholders with returns of over 400% within a three year time frame.

Prior to Irene’s successful business career, she was a key negotiator in the largest trade union in South Africa, the National Union of Mineworkers.

Sharron Venessa Naidoo – Chief Financial Officer

Venessa brings with her a wealth of business and financial experience gained through a successful career working with the largest entertainment and publishing group in Africa.

Venessa, as an experienced chartered accountant, joined CNA Gallo which later became known as Johnnic Entertainment.

She became Group Financial Director and played an integral role during the company’s re-birth. She played a vital role in the deconsolidation of the Group’s retail businesses and numerous operating entities when the retail group was sold. Venessa later led the realignment of the Entertainment Division into three distinct business units: Entertainment, Specialist Retail and Distribution. She was also responsible for the evaluation of all major acquisitions, negotiating and disposal of businesses.