MTN boss Phuthuma Nhelko joins BP board

Outgoing group president and CEO of African and Middle East tlecom firm MTN Group, Phuthuma Nhleko has been inducted as a non-executive director of BP p.l.c. with immediate effect.

The announcement was made by the BP board today.

MTN was engaged in discussions that did not materialise on a take over by Bharti Airtel and Reliance Communications in 2008 and 2009.

Nhleko, who has headed MTN since 2002, will relinquish charge at the end of March 2011, becoming vice president of MTN Group and chairman of MTN International. Both roles are non-executive.

BP chairman Carl-Henric Svanberg said, ''Phuthuma is an international business leader of high standing with a wide ranging business experience in emerging markets.  He has built a huge business in Africa and the Middle East with operations in a wide variety of countries."

Svanberg added, ''As barriers come down and communications improve, the emerging market economies continue to grow strongly. Phuthuma's appointment reflects the growing importance of emerging  markets and their growing integration into the global economy. We look forward to Phuthuma's valuable contribution as BP continues to grow and build confidence in a wider global community in which it operates.''