SA's third-largest mobile operator will scour cellular companies across the globe in a bid to replace Lars Reichelt, who left the company yesterday.
Reichelt joined Cell C as CEO in March 2009, on a three-year contract. He took over from Jeffrey Hedberg, who left to lead Telkom's Nigerian operation, Multi-Links, before becoming Telkom's acting CEO after Reuben September's sudden departure last year.
Chairman Simon Duffy, who will act as a Cell C's CEO until the company finds a replacement, says the operator will look internally, externally and internationally to find the best candidate to replace Reichelt.
Cell C has more than seven million subscribers and was the third mobile operator to enter the local market after Vodacom and then MTN. It is rolling out an upgraded network with aims to cover 97% of the population by the end of the year.
“I think we'll get a lot of interest,” says Duffy. He points out that, 18 months ago, South Africans were not aware that the operator had its own network, while just recently there was a heated debate as to whether Cell C or Vodacom had the best infrastructure.
Reichelt led the transformation, which was a “staggering achievement”, says Duffy. Cell C will “look to the new CEO to drive and implement the company's strategy in the next phase of its development,” he adds.
Global hunt
Vodacom, SA's largest mobile operator, recently said BP Southern Africa CEO Sipho Maseko would take over running its local unit in September. The appointment was made after Shameel Joosub left the company to head up Vodafone Spain at the end of March.
Duffy explains that, although Reichelt's resignation seemed sudden, it was not. He says Reichelt was on a standard three-year contract, which had a six-month notice period.
A few months ago, Reichelt raised the question of whether his term should be extended, which was discussed, says Duffy. Subsequently, Reichelt declined to renew his contract for personal reasons.
The parties agreed, in the interests of the company, that Reichelt's decision would be implemented immediately, says Duffy.
Reichelt has agreed to stay on with Cell C in an advisory capacity. He has 18 years' experience in the wireless industry, leading companies as diverse as Bangalink, Orascom's venture in Dhaka, and Telefonica 3G Mobile, in Zurich, according to his LinkedIN profile.
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