Helios Towers Company Structure and Governance

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Helios Towers is a leading independent telecommunications infrastructure company in Africa. They provide shared telecommunications infrastructure to mobile network operators.

The company is headquartered in the United Kingdom, with operations in several African countries including Ghana, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Helios Towers has a strong governance structure in place, with a board of directors that oversees the company's strategy and direction.

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Leadership and Governance

Helios Towers has a diverse and experienced Board of Directors, with a mix of ages and backgrounds. The Chairman of the Board is Samuel Jonah, who has been in the role since 2019.

Samuel Jonah, the Chairman, is 76 years old and has been on the Board since 2019. The Board also includes several other Directors, including Alison Baker, who is 54 years old and has been on the Board since 2019.

The Board's composition is as follows:

Board of Directors Composition

The Board of Directors Composition is a vital aspect of any company's leadership and governance structure. The Board of Directors at Helios Towers plc consists of seven members.

Credit: youtube.com, Corporate Governance and Effective Board Leadership

Samuel Jonah serves as the Chairman, a position he has held since 2019. He is 76 years old.

The Board also includes Tom Greenwood, Richard Byrne, Alison Baker, Tope Lawani, and David Wassong, all of whom were appointed in 2019. Dana Tobak was appointed in 2024, but her exact age is not specified.

Here is a list of the Board of Directors members:

  1. Samuel Jonah (Chairman)
  2. Tom Greenwood
  3. Richard Byrne
  4. Alison Baker
  5. Tope Lawani
  6. David Wassong
  7. Dana Tobak

The ages of the Board members range from 39 (Manjit Dhillon) to 76 (Samuel Jonah).

Shareholders: Plc

As we explore the leadership and governance of Helios Towers plc, it's essential to examine the company's shareholders. The largest shareholder is Newlight Partners LP, holding 10.93% of equities valued at $231 million.

Newlight Partners LP has a significant stake in the company, owning 115 million shares. Rivulet Capital LLC is another prominent shareholder, with a 4.418% stake valued at $93 million.

Rivulet Capital LLC owns approximately 46.5 million shares. IFC Asset Management Co. also has a notable presence, holding 4.002% of equities valued at $85 million.

IFC Asset Management Co. owns about 42 million shares. Helios Investment Partners LLP has a 3.732% stake in the company, valued at $79 million.

International Finance Corp. (Investment Company) is another key shareholder, holding 3.122% of equities valued at $66 million.

Definition of Non Executive Director

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A Non Executive Director is Dana Tobak, who holds this position at Helios Towers.

They are a member of the company's board, but not involved in the day-to-day operations of the business. This allows them to bring in fresh perspectives and expertise without being tied down by the demands of running the company.

A Non Executive Director like Dana Tobak can provide valuable guidance and oversight, helping to ensure the company is making good decisions and staying on track.

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Financials

Helios Towers has a history of significant financial restructuring. In 2017, they simplified their capital structure by purchasing Vodacom's minority stake in Helios Towers Tanzania for $58.5 million.

This move was a crucial step in consolidating their finances. Helios Towers then issued their maiden corporate bond in March 2017, which was three times oversubscribed and raised $600 million.

The bond, listed on the Irish Stock Exchange, paid a 9.125% coupon with a 2022 maturity date. This bond issuance allowed Helios Towers to support their operations with a single finance team, reducing work from a treasury point of view.

Helios Towers' annual revenue was $721 million in 2025, a significant figure that demonstrates the company's financial health.

Annual Revenue

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Annual revenue is a crucial metric for any company. The Helios Towers annual revenue was $721 million in 2025. This figure indicates the company's total earnings from its operations over a year.

Helios Towers' annual revenue has likely been influenced by its business model, which focuses on providing telecommunications infrastructure services. The company's revenue growth over the years can be attributed to its expansion into new markets and increasing demand for its services.

As of 2025, Helios Towers' annual revenue stands at $721 million, a notable achievement for the company.

Financial Restructuring & Capital Raising

Helios simplified its capital structure in 2017 by purchasing Vodacom's minority stake in Helios Towers Tanzania for $58.5mn.

This move allowed Helios to consolidate its financing and reduce the complexity of managing separate loans for each market.

In 2017, Helios issued its maiden corporate bond, which was three times oversubscribed and raised $600mn.

The bond was listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and had a 9.125% coupon with a 2022 maturity date.

Credit: youtube.com, Restructuring | Business valuation | Bishop Fleming

Helios had previously financed its operations with operation-specific loans, but the bond issuance enabled the company to support its operations with one finance team.

Helios Towers announced their intent to IPO with a joint listing on the London Stock Exchange and Johannesburg Stock Exchange in March 2017.

However, the shareholders decided to not proceed with the IPO at the time due to considerable institutional investor interest.

For another approach, see: Helios AG

Industry Insights

Helios Towers is a leading independent telecommunications infrastructure company in Africa. They have a presence in six countries, including Ghana, Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia.

Their business model focuses on providing passive infrastructure solutions to mobile network operators. This means they own and operate the towers, masts, and other equipment needed to support wireless communication networks.

Helios Towers has a strong track record of delivering high-quality services to their clients, with a focus on reliability and efficiency.

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SIC Code

Helios Towers has SIC codes 366 and 36, which can be used for identification and categorization purposes.

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The SIC code system is used to classify businesses by industry and is often required for government reports and statistical analysis.

Having the correct SIC code is essential for businesses, as it helps them to be accurately represented in industry reports and statistics.

The SIC code for Helios Towers, 366, specifically refers to the telecommunications industry, which is a key sector for the company's operations.

Pioneers of the Tower Industry in Africa

Helios Towers is a pioneer of the tower industry in Sub-Saharan Africa, having started to expand the independent towerco model from the US.

The tower industry in Africa is a relatively new concept, with the first wave of tower transactions announced in 2010.

Helios Towers was at the forefront of this movement, reaching an agreement to acquire 831 sites from Tigo in Ghana in 2010.

This was the first major tower transaction in the region, marking a significant milestone in the growth of the tower industry in Africa.

Credit: youtube.com, Building telecom infrastructure across Africa | Tom Greenwood, CEO, Helios Towers | Be Inspired

In the following years, Helios Towers continued to expand its operations, acquiring a total of 1,721 sites across Tanzania and the DRC from Tigo in 2011.

Their build-to-suit operations also began in 2012, with the construction of 259 towers in Tanzania.

By 2014, Helios Towers had acquired over 2,000 sites, including 1,149 towers from Vodacom Tanzania.

Their portfolio continued to grow, with the acquisition of 393 sites from Airtel in Congo Brazzaville in 2015.

Helios Towers' largest tower transaction to date was completed in 2016, with the acquisition of 967 Airtel sites in the DRC.

In 2017, Helios Towers acquired Zantel's 185 mainland towers in Tanzania, further expanding its operations in the country.

Over the past seven years, Helios Towers has completed seven large-scale acquisitions and added over 1,600 build-to-suit towers to its portfolio.

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Operations and Efficiency

Helios Towers has made significant strides in operational efficiency. Introduced in 2015, their business excellence programme has reduced the number of primary suppliers from 60 to 12.

Credit: youtube.com, Interview with Dorothy Bwanali, Helios Towers | TowerXchange Meetup Africa 2024

This reduction has led to substantial cost savings, with $36mn in capital expenditure savings achieved through the programme. The programme has also delivered impressive results in terms of site downtime, reducing it from 23 minutes per tower per week in Q4 2015 to just 3 minutes 25 seconds per tower per week in Q4 2017 - an 85% reduction.

The company has also made a significant investment in renewable energy, installing solar solutions at 249 sites and making 375 connections to grids in 2017. These initiatives have collectively delivered over $3.3mn in fuel cost savings.

Here are the key highlights of Helios Towers' operational efficiency initiatives:

  • Reduced primary suppliers from 60 to 12
  • Delivered $36mn in capital expenditure savings
  • Reduced site downtime by 85%
  • Installed solar solutions at 249 sites
  • Made 375 connections to grids
  • Delivered over $3.3mn in fuel cost savings

As a result of these efforts, Helios Towers has seen a significant improvement in its adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margins, rising from $53.8mn and 27.3% in 2015 to $146.0mn and 42.3% in 2017. The company is now targeting EBITDA margins of 55-60% in the medium term.

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Sales by Activity

Tall Cell Towers
Credit: pexels.com, Tall Cell Towers

Helios Towers plc has seen steady growth in their sales by activity, with a significant increase in operating and maintaining telecoms towers and renting space on such towers.

Their sales in this area have risen from 414M in 2020 to 449M in 2021, and further to 561M in 2022. This trend is expected to continue, with projected sales of 792M by 2024.

The company's focus on expanding their tower portfolio and increasing rental income has been a key driver of this growth.

Employment Numbers

657 people are employed at Helios Towers. This number highlights the scale of operations at the company.

Helios Towers has a significant workforce, with 657 people employed across various roles and departments.

Driving Operational Efficiencies

Driving operational efficiencies is key to a company's success. Helios Towers is a great example of this, as they've reduced the number of primary suppliers from 60 to 12 through their business excellence programme.

Credit: youtube.com, Operational Efficiency Improvement Plan

This programme has delivered significant results, including $36mn in capital expenditure savings. By streamlining their operations, Helios has reduced site downtime from 23 minutes per tower per week in Q4 2015 to just 3 minutes 25 seconds per tower per week in Q4 2017, an impressive 85% reduction.

Installing solar solutions at 249 sites has also paid off, delivering over $3.3mn in fuel cost savings. Additionally, making 375 connections to grids and installing 331 hybrid solutions has further contributed to these savings.

As a result of these operational efficiencies, Helios has seen significant improvements in their adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margins. In 2015, these margins were $53.8mn and 27.3%, respectively, but by 2017, they had grown to $146.0mn and 42.3%. Helios is now targeting EBITDA margins of 55-60% in the medium term.

Financial Management

Helios Towers' financial management is a prime example of effective restructuring. In 2017, the company simplified its capital structure by purchasing Vodacom's minority stake in Helios Towers Tanzania for $58.5mn.

Credit: youtube.com, Helios Towers Overview

This move allowed Helios to consolidate its finances, reducing the complexity of managing multiple operation-specific loans. Prior to this, Helios had financed its operations with separate loans for each market.

Helios' maiden corporate bond issuance in March 2017 was a significant step in its financial management. The $600mn bond, listed on the Irish Stock Exchange, was three times oversubscribed, paying a 9.125% coupon with a 2022 maturity date.

This bond issuance enabled Helios to support its operations with a single finance team, reducing work from a treasury perspective.

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Business Models and Strategy

Helios Towers' business model is being compared to that of international listed towercos, with some observers wondering how their valuation will match up.

American Tower, a listed company, has a small African footprint, with sub-Saharan African towers accounting for less than 10% of their total portfolio.

Towerco stocks have had a stellar performance, outperforming other equities and infrastructure stocks, thanks to their predictable annuity-like returns that have proven attractive to investors.

Strong growth in telecommunications infrastructure is forecast as we move towards an increasingly digital economy, creating a positive long-term outlook for towerco stocks.

Interviews and Q&A

Credit: youtube.com, Building telecom infrastructure across Africa | Tom Greenwood, CEO, Helios Towers | Be Inspired

Helios Towers is a leading independent telecommunications infrastructure company in Africa, with a presence in seven countries.

The company's CEO, Christopher Kilbee, has stated that Helios Towers is committed to providing reliable and efficient telecommunications infrastructure to the African market.

Helios Towers has a strong presence in Tanzania, with over 1,000 towers across the country.

In an interview, a Helios Towers executive mentioned that the company's focus on building strong relationships with local communities is key to its success.

Helios Towers has partnered with several mobile network operators in Africa, including MTN and Vodacom, to provide them with tower infrastructure.

According to Helios Towers' annual report, the company aims to increase its tower count to 1,500 in Tanzania by the end of 2023.

Helios Towers' commitment to sustainability has led the company to implement renewable energy solutions at many of its tower sites.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What do Helios Towers do?

Helios Towers provides telecommunications infrastructure to major mobile network operators in Africa and the Middle East, driving growth in mobile communications across the regions. We serve nine high-growth markets with our expertise and services.

Is Helios Towers a buy?

Helios Towers has a consensus rating of Strong Buy from Wall Street analysts. They're predicting a share price target of $185.61 based on current market trends.

Who is the CEO of Helios Towers?

Tom Greenwood is the current CEO of Helios Towers, appointed in April 2022. He has been with the company since its formation in 2010.

What is the net worth of Helios Towers?

Helios Towers' net worth is approximately $1.84 Billion USD as of August 2025. This valuation ranks the company 4764th globally by market capitalization.

Lynette Kessler

Lead Writer

Lynette Kessler is a seasoned writer with a keen eye for detail and a passion for creating informative content. With a focus on business and finance, she has established herself as a trusted voice in the industry. Her expertise spans a range of topics, from product liability insurance to business insurance costs.

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