Tullow Oil appoints Phuthuma Nhleko as non-executive chairman
Phuthuma Nhleko will take over as Tullow chairman from Dorothy Thompson after she steps down later this year
Tullow Oil plc has announced the appointment of Phuthuma Nhleko as an independent non-executive director and the chairman-designate of Tullow.
Nhleko joined the board as a non-executive director on 25 October 2021 and will take over as chairman of Tullow from Dorothy Thompson, CBE, following a suitable handover period and after Thompson steps down as chair and retires from the board by the year end.
Nhleko brings extensive emerging markets experience to Tullow, having worked successfully across Africa over the past three decades.
He was the 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, Nhleko 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.
Wide experience
After stepping down as chief executive of MTN in 2011, Nhleko 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.
Currently, Nhleko is the chairman of Phembani Group, an investment group that he founded in 1994, and chairman-designate of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange Ltd.
He is also a non-executive director of the South African downstream energy company Engen Petroleum, and a non-executive director of IHS Towers, the NYSE-listed Emerging Markets Telecom Infrastructure Provider.
He is a South African national and holds a BSc in civil engineering from Ohio State University and an MBA from Atlanta University.
African comeback
Dorothy Thompson, the chair of Tullow Oil plc, said: “Phuthuma brings to Tullow excellent and relevant experience, having successfully built a truly pan-African business. He is a widely acclaimed business leader with a deep understanding of Africa and a broad set of relationships across the continent.
“He also brings experience from listed companies across a number of international markets, including the UK and Africa.
“Phuthuma joins Tullow at a key moment in its development. With a stable balance sheet and a clear strategy underpinned by a commitment to Net Zero by 2030 and to responsible and safe operations, Tullow is well positioned to re-establish itself as a leader in Africa. Phuthuma will play an important part in supporting Tullow’s ambitions to be a partner of choice for governments and our industry peers as the African oil and gas sector evolves over the coming decade.”
Nhleko also commented, “I am very pleased to have been appointed as chairman-designate of Tullow, a company I have followed with much interest since its inception. I am impressed with the successful turnaround and transformational refinancing that allows Tullow to build on its strong position and reputation within the African oil and gas sector.”
He added, “I believe Tullow is uniquely placed to develop the oil and gas resources of its host countries efficiently and safely while minimising its environmental impact. I look forward to supporting the Tullow team as they grow the business, deliver shared prosperity and create value for our investors, staff, host nations and communities.”
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