Kathmandu, October 17
Michael Foley has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ncell. He will assume the role on November 1, succeeding Syed MD Enamul Kabir, who had been serving as Acting CEO. Kabir will continue to play a key role in the company as Chief Financial Officer (CFO).
With over 20 years of senior leadership experience in the telecommunications industry, Michael Foley brings a proven track record of success across some of the sector’s most prominent companies. Before joining Ncell, Foley most recently served as Head of French Africa at Airtel, where he oversaw operations in seven Francophone African markets.
Prior to that, he held the position of CEO at Telenor Pakistan (TP), where he led the company through a highly challenging business environment, achieving market-leading growth, profitability, and strong employee engagement. His previous leadership roles also include CEO of Grameenphone (Bangladesh) and Telenor Bulgaria, where he led a significant business turnaround—growing the customer base to over 70 million and increasing EBITDA by more than 60%.
Foley has also served as Chairman of Tameer Micro-Finance (now Easypaisa, Pakistan) and Telenor Health. He is currently Chairman of WATU DRC SA, a division of WATU, Africa’s leading asset micro-finance company.
“I am delighted and humbled to take on this responsibility here in Kathmandu. Ncell is a critical infrastructure provider for the country and holds immense potential to drive digital transformation, enhance economic competitiveness, and attract foreign investments, all while creating new opportunities for the people of Nepal,” Foley said. “In today’s digital, AI-powered, and social media-driven era, telecommunications companies are not just service providers — we are weaving the very digital fabric of society.”
“We have become the operating system of the modern economy. It is essential that we steward these vital assets responsibly as we work to serve the nation, enhance our services, and, most importantly, empower the next generation,” he added.
The Board of Directors of Ncell expressed strong confidence in Foley’s leadership, stating: “We are very pleased to welcome Michael to Kathmandu in this key leadership role. His extensive experience and strategic vision will be instrumental in guiding Ncell’s transformation and reinforcing our commitment to serving our communities.”
Foley is a graduate of McGill University and holds executive certificates in Global Management and Governance from INSEAD. He holds dual Canadian-Kenyan citizenship.
