Phuthuma Nhleko

Phuthuma Nhleko (61, South African) joined Tullow as a non-executive director and chair-designate on 25 October 2021. Phuthuma took over the role of chairman on 1 January 2022. Phuthuma brings extensive emerging markets experience to Tullow having worked successfully across Africa over the past three decades. Phuthuma was chief executive of MTN Group, the leading pan-African telecommunications company, from 2002 to 2011. During his time with MTN, the Group grew rapidly in Africa and the Middle East, gaining over 185 million subscribers to become one of the largest listed companies in Africa. In 2013, Phuthuma returned to MTN as a non-executive director and chairman until 2019. This included a period as executive chairman from 2015 to 2017. He remained part of the international advisory board for the business until August 2021. After stepping down as chief executive of MTN in 2011, Phuthuma was a non-executive director at BP plc (2011–16) and Anglo-American plc (2011–15). He also served previously on the boards of Nedbank and Old Mutual in South Africa.