For any young CEO who steps into the world of industry and big business, a natural ability to chart new waters is expected.
You know Selorm Adadevoh as the second Ghanaian to lead Ghana’s top telecommunications company, MTN Ghana, but did you know he would die for Liverpool FC?
Here are nine interesting things we bet you (probably) didn’t know about the Ghanaian business and technology executive.
1. From KNUST to cleaning jobs
The lowest point in Adadevoh’s life was when he was so broke that he decided to apply for a cleaning job in the UK because he was unemployed for four months.
As a former Taylor Woodrow employee, he knew he was well qualified for the position; however, he was denied it.
2. Attended 400 job interviews
After four months without a job, the CEO of MTN Ghana was able to secure an offer after attending 400 interviews.
He landed an offer at Electrolux in the UK; from then on, there was no looking back.
3. 22 years experience in technology management
Adadevoh is a seasoned telecom and financial services business leader with over 22 years of experience spanning strategy, general management, and technology management.
Over the years, Selorm has developed a reputation for his exceptional leadership and his ability to transform and turnaround businesses.
4. Relationship with Fortune 500 companies
During his over 10 years of consulting, Adadevoh served as an advisor to C-level executives of several Fortune 500 companies, including Vodafone, Hutchison 3G, FTSE 100, Procter & Gamble, United Airlines, Pfizer, and others, providing him with a unique blend and depth of experience across multiple industries.
5. PERSCO and KNUST alumni
St. Peter’s Senior High School, or PERSCO as it is popularly known, is a Roman Catholic boys’ senior high school in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
Adadevoh is a Perso ba, a product of the school that excels in science and math, as evidenced by their annual performance in the National Science and Math Quiz.
He also attended the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, which is ranked 1439th in the world, 31st in Africa, and 2nd in Ghana by aggregated alumni prominence.
6. The UK internship that paid off
In level 300 at KNUST, Adadevoh wrote letters to companies in the UK and to civil engineering institutions in the US for an internship opportunity. He sent about 15 letters for internships and got accepted for one.
In July 1997, he got an internship offer from Taylor Woodrow, the largest engineering conglomerate in Europe.
Speaking at Springboard 2019 Global Convocation, he said, “And for two months in the UK, all I did was printing and binding, I learned nothing about computers until I came back to Ghana.”
“However, when I came back to school, I applied back to them for a full-time job, and I was offered a full-time job, so I went back to Taylor Woodrow after KNUST.”
7. Mastered IT at home by reading books
Adadevoh is also a tough taskmaster. He quit his job at Taylor Woodrow because he realised that he knew nothing about the job
“I didn’t know anything on the field of engineering except what I learnt on paper at KNUST. After three weeks of being grossly frustrated and embarrassed, I quit,” he said.
“Being a civil engineer was all well and good, but all industries are going to need people who understand technology, so I decided to learn IT from books.”
8. An avid tennis player
The MTN Ghana boss is known as an avid tennis player and fan of the sport’s development. He spends most of his weekends on the court.
9. A lifetime Liverpool FC fan
Adadevoh is also a dedicated Liverpool FC fan, so much so that he never misses a game and continues to uphold and deliver the values of the club.
He belongs to one of the many active fan clubs that swear by their team.
