The board of directors of Emerging Markets Telecommunication Services Limited (EMTS), operating as 9mobile, on Tuesday announced the appointment of seasoned business and finance professional Abolaji Idowu as the new chief financial officer (CFO).
Mr Idowu’s appointment is part of a significant leadership change initiated by the board of the telco in its determined efforts at business transformation which has so far seen the appointment of a new CEO to drive this process.
Idowu takes over from Nkem Oni-Egboma who is stepping down to explore new opportunities outside of 9mobile.
He joins the telco with over 20 years of experience having led finance transformation and delivering ambitious growth for global giants, such as Vodafone, Telefonica O2, MTN Nigeria, Starcomms PLC, Shell, Barclays, PepsiCo International, British Gas, Johnson & Johnson, Norgine Pharmaceutical and Vivo Energy.
He has held senior positions in various organisations across Europe and Africa raising finance, transforming organisations, championing growth, delivering significant cost saving and efficiency, optimizing asset utilisation, reorganising and streamlining companies, and preparing entities for new markets. His work has seen him traverse several markets including the United Kingdom, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Belgium, and the UAE.
In his comments on the new CFO appointment, 9mobile CEO Obafemi Banigbe said, “Idowu is a valuable addition to the high-performance team we are building at 9mobile, with his cross-sector experience and the diverse working backgrounds and experiences. He brings valuable perspectives and skill sets that can drive strategic financial decision-making, foster innovation, and enhance risk management.
“I am looking forward to working with him to accelerate delivery on the exciting 9mobile transformation strategy. Idowu has a proven track record and experience in helping to lead high-performance organisations that improve business resilience, drive operational excellence, and deliver accelerated strategic growth.”
Speaking on his appointment, Idowu pledged to leverage his rich experience to impact the finance and operations of the company positively. “I am very excited to be a part of this new phase of business transformation. I look forward to working closely with the management team led by the CEO, staff, and other stakeholders and collaborating with the board to achieve our shared goals,” he said.
As chief financial officer, Idowu will provide strategic leadership for the finance team, and take ownership of financial decisions in line with current trends and EMTS strategic vision.
Idowu holds a bachelor’s degree in management and accounting from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) and has a master’s in business administration (MBA) from the prestigious Manchester Business School. He is a certified chartered accountant (ACCA), a certified financial analyst (FMVA), and a certified business coach. He is a guest on many radio and television programmes and speaks on many stages in Europe and Africa.
