MTC Group subsidiary Celtel International, a leader in mobile communications in Africa, has appointed Lord Simon Cairns as chairman of the board.

Lord Cairns, who was previously deputy chairman of the board, replaces Dr Mo Ibrahim, who founded Celtel in 1998 and is stepping down to focus on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

Dr Ibrahim will also be concerned with the newly established Africa Enterprise Fund, which invests in African businesses outside the field of telecommunications.

Lord Cairns comes to the helm of Celtel at a time the mobile operator is witnessing exponential customer growth. His professional career has seen him serve as chairman of Actis Capital; CDC Group; Commonwealth Business Council; the Overseas Development Institute; Allied Zurich as well as deputy chairman and chief executive officer of SG Warburg. 

Celtel International is one of Africa’s leading mobile operators serving over 21 million customers across 14 sub-Saharan nations. In April 2005, MTC Kuwait acquired Celtel for $3.4 billion and asked Mo Ibrahim to remain the chairman. Under his stewardship Celtel grew its customer base from 5 million customers in April 2005 to more than 21 million mobile users today.

Dr Saad Al Barrak, managing director and deputy chairman of the MTC Group, said: “On behalf of everyone at MTC, we welcome Lord Cairns and we would like to thank Mo from the bottom of our hearts for his leadership, guidance and wisdom he has offered us over the past two and a half years as chairman of Celtel’s board. As one of the recognized leaders in the field of mobile telecommunications and pre-eminent businessmen in Africa we are thankful for his leadership in growing the mobile business in Africa and we trust that his new endeavors will contribute to the development of the African continent.” -  TradeArabia News Service