Ncell new CEO Michael Foley: who is he?

Ncell has appointed Michael Foley as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He will officially take over the position on November 1, 2025.

Foley will replace Syed MD Enamul Kabir, who had been serving as the acting CEO. Kabir will continue to play an important leadership role in the company as the chief financial officer (CFO).

Who is Michael Foley?

Foley is not new to the telecom world. He has more than 20 years of experience in the global telecommunications industry. He has worked in senior leadership positions across several countries and companies, earning a strong reputation for driving growth and success.

Before joining Ncell, Foley served as the head of French Africa at Airtel, where he managed operations in seven countries. He also worked as the CEO of Telenor Pakistan, leading the company through a difficult business environment and achieving steady growth, profitability, and employee engagement.

Earlier in his career, Foley was the CEO of Grameenphone in Bangladesh and Telenor Bulgaria. Under his leadership, these companies expanded their customer base to over 70 million users and increased earnings by more than 60 percent.

Foley has also held key positions beyond telecom. He served as chairman of Tameer Microfinance, now known as Easypaisa in Pakistan, and as chairman of Telenor Health. At present, he leads WATU DRC SA, a part of WATU, one of Africa’s largest asset microfinance companies.

After his appointment, Foley said “he was honored to take on this role in Kathmandu”. He described Ncell as an essential part of Nepal’s infrastructure and said the company has great potential to support digital growth, improve the economy, and create more opportunities for people.

Foley graduated from McGill University and holds executive certificates in global management and governance from INSEAD. He has dual citizenship in Canada and Kenya.

Ncell, established in 2004 and operating since 2005, is Nepal’s first private telecom company. It continues to focus on connecting people across Nepal and providing modern, high-quality communication services that deliver long-term value for customers and partners.