Banglalink majority owner Veon on the hunt for new CEO as Charlier resigns

The Netherlands-based Veon, formerly VimpelCom, which owns majority share of Bangladeshi telecom operator Banglalink, is searching for a new CEO following the resignation of its chief executive Jean-Yves Charlier.

Veon appointed its Chairman Ursula Burns as executive chairman after Charlier stepped down, the company said in a media release on Tuesday.

Ursula Burns. Reuters

The supervisory board is undertaking a search for a new CEO, and once a replacement is named and installed, Burns will return to her role as chairman of the board, the release added.

In her capacity as executive chairman, Burns will continue her chairmanship while also assuming direct supervision of the company’s executive management team.

Veon also said Kjell Morten Johnsen, who will take on the role of interim chief operating officer, will support Burns during the transition period.

VEON appointed Burns as chairman on 24 July 2017.

The American business executive worked as chairman of Xerox Corporation from 2010 to 2017 and CEO from 2009 to 2016. She is a director of the boards of American Express, Exxon Mobil, Nestlé and Uber.

“With VEON’s unique geographic footprint, and a strong push on our digital agenda to better serve our 240 million customers, we are well positioned to compete, grow and prosper in the markets we serve,” the release quoted her as saying.

Jean-Yves Charlier. Reuters

Belgian Charlier, who served the company for three years, said, “Over the past three years, we have achieved a profound transformation of the Group and I am immensely proud of all that we have accomplished. The transformation creates a solid foundation for a positive path for the company in the years ahead and I wish Ursula and the VEON teams across the world the very best.”

Neither the company nor Charlier made it clear why he is leaving the firm.

Out of the 240 million customers of Veon across the world, Banglalink has 30 million.

Banglalink is a fully owned company of Telecom Ventures Ltd which is a 100 percent-owned subsidiary of Global Telecom Holding. VEON owns 51.9 percent shares of Global Telecom.