French telco Orange has made some changes to its African and Middle East team, with Bruno Mettling being appointed deputy-CEO in charge of operations in Africa and the Middle East.
"Africa and the Middle East is a growth territory for Orange. The creation of a holding company bringing together its operations in this zone, as well as the planned acquisition of four new countries, opens up new development prospects for the group to affirm its ambitions in that region," the company says in a statement.
Orange has also outlined its priorities for the next five years, with its "Essentiels2020 strategic plan".
"As from 1 March 2016, the group's organisation will evolve in line with the strategic plan in order to best implement this roadmap and support Orange in its transformation," it says.
Marc Rennard, who has led Orange's development in Africa and the Middle East since June 2010, now takes over as deputy-CEO in charge of customer experience and mobile financial services.
"Armed with his experience gained rolling-out Orange Money, he will be in charge of mobile financial services, one of the two areas of diversification set out in the strategic plan," according to Orange.
"Bruno Mettling, who has worked ceaselessly for the group's transformation, will be appointed deputy-CEO in charge of operations in Africa and the Middle East."
Jean-Marc Vignolles will become Mettling's second in command as COO in the region. Laurent Paillassot replaces Vignolles as head of Orange Spain, which now represents more than 10% of the group's revenue.
Orange global chairman and CEO St'ephane Richard says the new organisation has been thought out to support the company's Essentiels2020 strategic plan.
"These changes will take effect on 1 March 2016 in order to allow for the completion of certain particularly important projects for the group, such as the preparation of our mobile banking offer and the integration of Jazztel."
Orange received European Union approval for its EUR3.4 billion acquisition of Spanish broadband and cellular operator Jazztel in May. This after Orange agreed to a package of divestments and network-sharing agreements that would help launch a new telecoms operator in Spain.
"I also wanted the coming months to be devoted to the preparation and organisation of this transition, so that it can take place in an efficient and coherent manner, and so that the new organisation will be fully operational from day one," says Richard.
The French mobile operator has a presence in 20 countries in Africa and the Middle East, and began its consumer foray in South Africa in early 2013. Orange has 110 million customers in Africa and the Middle East, and 22 000 employees. The region provided EUR35.7 billion in revenue for the group in 2014.
Share