Irene Charnley is a commercial director of the MTN Group. She is responsible for identifying new investment opportunities outside SA for the cell phone group.

Irene Charnley spent 13 years with the National Union of Mineworkers. She coordinated the legal, housing, research and social security divisions. Irene played a very important role in the formation of the National Empowerment Consortium (50 percent black business and 50 percent labour) and their purchase of a 35 percent stake in Johnnic Holdings. In 1996 she joined Johnnic as Executive Director and she took responsibility for telecommunications in 1998.

In August 2000, Irene was elected Businesswoman of the Year in recognition of her entrepreneurship and wonderful contribution to the success and transformation of Johnnic Holdings. Irene was also influential in ensuring that Johnnic holdings became the controlling shareholder in MCell at the time (now known as the MTN Group). More recently Irene has been named as one of the top 50 businesswomen in South Africa.

Currently, Irene is the Commercial Director at the MTN Group, responsible for the company's strategic investments and international expansion activities. She also serves as a Director on a number of company boards. She is also a member of the King Committee on Corporate Governance and is an International Marketing Council Board Member.

Sources:-

Whoswhosa

MTN Group