MTN has appointed former Gold Fields executive Michael Fleischer to the position of chief legal counsel for the group, effective as of 1 February.

An admitted attorney of the High Court of SA, Fleischer joins MTN from local mining giant Gold Fields, where he held the position of executive VP general counsel since November 2006.

Prior to his seven-year stint with Gold Fields, Fleischer served as a partner in the corporate services department at law firm Webber Wentzel Bowens.

MTN CEO Sifiso Dabengwa" rel=tag>Sifiso Dabengwa says Fleischer brings a wealth of experience to his new role. “[He has] had significant experience in the fields of mergers and acquisitions, regulation and compliance and commercial transactions.”

Dabengwa says in his new role, Fleischer will be responsible for leading the MTN Group legal and regulatory team, and providing strategic legal counsel to the company.