IHS Holding Limited (“IHS”), one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared telecommunications infrastructure in the world and leader in EMEA by tower count, has announced two new appointments to its Board of Directors.
John Ellis (Jeb) Bush, the current President of Jeb Bush & Associates LLC, has joined IHS’ Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Independent Director. Mr. Bush was the Governor of Florida between 1999 and 2007, and the Florida Secretary of Commerce from 1986 to 1988. Mr. Bush currently serves as the Chairman of Dock Square Capital and of the Foundation for Excellence idn Education. He was a senior adviser for Barclays in 2014 and a board member of Tenet Healthcare Corp.
Nick Land, a chartered accountant, retired as Executive Chairman of Ernst & Young LLP in 2006 following 36 years with the firm. Mr. Land has joined IHS’ Board of Directors as a Non-Executive Independent Director and Chair of IHS’ Audit Committee. Mr. Land also serves as the Deputy Chair of Thames Water Utilities Ltd and chairs the Audit and Risk Committee. He is Chairman of The Instant Group and is also a Non-Executive Director of the Financial Reporting Council and chairs its Codes and Standards Committee. He also sits on the board of Astro Lighting Ltd. Mr. Land has previously been a Non-Executive Director of Vodafone Group, Royal Dutch Shell, Alliance Boots, Ashmore Group and BBA Aviation. Moreover, Mr. Land is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Vodafone Group Foundation, is an adviser to the Board of Dentons UKEMEA and chairs the Private Equity Reporting Group of the British Venture Capital Association.
Sam Darwish, IHS Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “We are delighted to welcome Jeb and Nick to our Board. We look forward to the wealth of expertise and insight that they will each bring to IHS. Their advice and counsel will prove invaluable as we seek to pursue our strategic goals, continue our corporate governance evolution and cement our position as one of the largest independent telecommunications infrastructure owners in the world. The Board and I would like to extend our warmest welcome to them.”
Jeb Bush, Non-Executive Independent Director, said: “Through bold innovation and investments, IHS is playing a critical role in accelerating Africa’s technological revolution. I am thrilled to be joining IHS’s Board and look forward to working with Sam and the management team at IHS as they continue to transform connectivity and telecommunications throughout emerging markets globally.”
Nick Land, Non-Executive Independent Director and Chair of IHS’ Audit Committee, said: “I am excited to join IHS at a time of continued corporate governance development. Together with Jeb and the existing Board members, I look forward to supporting the Company’s sustainable growth strategy focused on enhancing the telecommunications infrastructure in Africa and beyond.”
About IHS: IHS is one of the largest independent owners, operators and developers of shared telecommunications infrastructure, or tower operators in the world by tower count with approximately 24,000 towers. IHS is the largest independent tower operator in EMEA and the third largest independent multinational tower operator globally, in both cases by tower count. IHS continues to grow and develop its business with leading market positions in Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Rwanda and Zambia. IHS also announced agreements to acquire Zain’s towers in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, subject to certain regulatory and statutory approvals. Upon completion of the Zain Kuwait and Saudi Arabia transactions, IHS towers will have approximately 33,100 towers in its portfolio which will confirm IHS’ position as one of the largest independent multinational tower operators globally by tower count.
