(Telecompaper) African operator MTN announced that its new CEO Rob Shuter will start on 13 March 2017. Shuter, currently CEO of Vodafone Netherlands, was named MTN CEO in June, and at the time MTN said he would start no later than 01 July 2017. In a trading update for Q3, MTN said the start date had been brought forward, and will support its ongoing transformation plans. In addition to the senior management changes, MTN said it's focused on operating efficiencies and improving customer experience, starting in its biggest markets Nigeria and South Africa. The first impact of the changes, led by the dedicated transformation office set up in recent months, should be apparent in the first half of 2017, the company said.