Michael Foley appointed as CEO of Ncell

KATHMANDU: Ncell has announced the appointment of Michael Foley as its new chief executive officer, effective November 1, 2025.

Foley succeeds 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.

With more than 20 years of senior leadership experience in the telecommunications industry, Foley brings a strong track record of success across several prominent sector companies.

Before joining Ncell, Foley most recently served as head of French Africa at Airtel, overseeing operations in seven Francophone African markets. Prior to that, he was chief executive of Telenor Pakistan, where he led the company through a highly challenging business environment, delivering market‑leading growth, profitability and employee engagement.

His previous leadership roles include chief executive of Grameenphone in Bangladesh and Telenor Bulgaria, where he led a significant business turnaround, growing the subscriber base to more than 70 million and increasing EBITDA to over 60 per cent. Foley has also served as chair of Tameer Micro‑Finance (now Easypaisa, Pakistan), chair of Telenor Health, and is currently chair of WATU DRC SA, a division of WATU.

Foley said, "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 investment, all while creating new opportunities for the people of Nepal. 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."

The board of directors expressed strong confidence in Foley’s leadership, saying his experience and strategic vision will be instrumental in guiding Ncell’s transformation and reinforcing its commitment to serving 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.