Outgoing Telkom Kenya CEO Mickael Ghossein. PHOTO | FILE
What you need to know:
France Telecoms has appointed Vincent Lobry, 58, as the new CEO.
He joins Telkom Kenya from Orange Polska, the biggest mobile operator in Poland where he served as the vice president in charge of marketing and strategy.
Mr Ghossein, who has been at the helm of the firm since 2009, has been moved to the Middle East as senior vice president of Orange Business Services.
France Telecoms has recalled Mickael Ghossein from his position as chief executive of Telkom Kenya, appointing a new CEO who is expected to conclude ongoing talks to sell its 70 per cent interest in the loss-making business.
The French telecommunications giant appointed Vincent Lobry, 58, as the new CEO. He joins Telkom Kenya from Orange Polska, the biggest mobile operator in Poland where he served as the vice president in charge of marketing and strategy.
Mr Ghossein, who has been at the helm of the firm since 2009, has been moved to the Middle East as senior vice president of Orange Business Services.
Telkom Kenya chairman Eddy Njoroge said Mr Lobry’s appointment becomes effective as from Thursday.
“We appreciate the strategic effort put by Mickael, enabling the business to streamline its operations, thereby offering products and solutions that meet the dynamic needs of the market. We are assured of a similar approach with the appointment of Vincent Lobry, even as the industry prepares for more competition,” said Mr Njoroge.
France Telecom is in advanced talks to sell its majority stake in Telkom Kenya, which is 30 per cent owned by the government.
Mr Lobry has 35 years’ experience in the telecommunications sector, with a focus on sales and marketing.
The changes came after the expiry of Telkom Kenya’s expatriates contracts, which has also seen other senior managers including chief finance officer Yvan Ridard and chief technical officer Alain Bridard replaced.
Others that have been affected are the chief officer in charge of sales and marketing Xavier Villegas and the head of customer care and marketing Bertrand Vuillemin.
Mr Lobry is a graduate of École Polytechnique and Telecom Paris Tech.
Mr Ghossein has previously denied reports that he is among the expatriates leaving by September.
The changes in May saw Mireille Helou, the company’s chief business transformation officer, appointed as chief officer market, sales and marketing, and Francois Bresson promoted to chief finance officer.
Mercy Nduku is the new chief human resources officer while Ann Nyaga is the new head of customer care.
The appointments leave the positions of chief technical officer and chief business transformation officer vacant.
The French had in 2008 hoped to return Telkom Kenya to profitability in 2011, but this was scuttled by the decision by the Communications Authority of Kenya to cut the mobile tariff rate (MTR) by half to Sh2.21 on July 1, 2010.
Latest statistics indicate that the company trails in the voice market commanding only seven per cent of the subscriber base.
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