Steve Howden

Steve Howden is the EVP and Chief Financial Officer at IHS. Prior to this, they served as the Senior Vice President, Deputy Chief Financial Officer at IHS Towers from June 2019 to April 2022. Steve also served as the Senior Vice President, Group Head of M&A at IHS Towers from February 2018 to June 2019, and as the M&A, Investments and Strategy Director at IHS Towers from August 2016 to February 2018.

Steve Howden began their career at Ernst & Young in August 2006, where they served as the Assistant Director of Mergers & Acquisitions. During their time at Ernst & Young, they were the financial advisor to IHS Nigeria Plc on its acquisition of MTN Group Limited's Cameroon wireless network infrastructure for $143 million, as well as its Cote d'Ivoire wireless network infrastructure for $141 million. Steve also advised American Tower Corporation Inc on its joint venture acquisition of MTN Group Limited's Ugandan wireless network infrastructure for $175 million, and its joint venture acquisition of MTN Group Limited's Ghanaian wireless network infrastructure for $428 million. In addition, they advised American Tower Corporation Inc on its acquisition of Cell C's wireless network infrastructure for $430 million, and on its EMEA expansion strategy.

Steve Howden has also advised LINPAC Group Limited on its disposal of 5 non-core businesses to Chamonix Private Equity for an undisclosed sum, and was the financial and Rule 3 advisor on the disposal of BNS Telecom Group Plc to Daisy Group Plc for a transaction value of £13 million. Steve was also the co-financial advisor on the disposal of Eurotel to Daisy Group Plc for a transaction value of £14 million. Furthermore, they have advised Private Equity houses on the potential acquisitions of AT Communications Group Plc and Synetrix Limited, and advised Cable & Wireless Plc on a potential acquisition opportunity in the UK.

Most recently, Steve Howden was the financial advisor on the acquisition of a significant minority stake in the Bulgarian Telecom Company (BTK) on behalf of Al Bateen, alongside a consortium of financial investors including AIG Capital in a €1,900 transaction. Steve was also the financial advisor on the disposal of Perstorp AB operating company Sydsvenka Kemi AB on behalf of Industri Kapital, to PAI Partners - transaction value €1,000m.

Steve Howden graduated from the University of Bath with a BSc in Business Administration (BBA). Steve then went on to earn their certification from the Institute of Chartered Accountants Scotland as a Chartered Accountant.

Some direct reports include Colby Synesael - SVP, Communications, David Ordman - SVP, Deputy CFO. Their manager is Sam Darwish, Chairman, Group CEO & Director. Some of their coworkers include William S. Saad - EVP, COO & Co-Founder, Mohamad Darwish - SVP, IHS Nigeria CEO & Co-Founder, and Mustafa Tharoo - EVP, General Counsel.