The Wireless Application Service Providers' Association (Waspa) has announced its chairman, Leon Perlman, will be leaving the association at the end of July.
Waspa says in a statement that Perlman will be going abroad for an extended period, but will continue to be involved with Waspa in a consulting capacity. A by-election will be held shortly after his departure on 31 July to fill the resultant vacancy on the Waspa management committee (Mancom).
Perlman, who recently completed a doctorate in Law on Mobile Financial Services, will be using his expertise in this field in a number of diverse markets around the world, says the statement.
Casper de Villiers, Waspa vice-chairman, says Perlman has been a key stakeholder in Waspa since its founding in 2004.
"Leon has provided a unique blend of commercial and regulatory expertise that has benefited the WASP industry in South Africa. During his tenure, the Waspa Mancom assisted the industry in becoming a multi-billion Rand market, while at the same time putting extensive protections in place for consumers.
"He will be missed by the Waspa Mancom team, the Waspa secretariat, and the WASP community. The Waspa Mancom wishes Leon the best in pursuing his new opportunities," says De Villiers.
Perlman is quoted in the statement as saying he was privileged to work with a talented team. "I have enjoyed being part of a unique self-regulatory and industry body that has become a role model for other industry bodies around the world, providing South African consumers with protections that never before existed, whilst at the same time providing the WASP industry with a stable growth path for over a decade.
"With the use of a number of ICT lawyers in adjudicating the Waspa Code of Conduct, we have also created a pool of expertise in the legal field that never before existed in South Africa."
Perlman was elected Waspa's founding chairman in 2004 and has held the position since then. He has also been the chairman and vice-chairman of the International Audiotext regulators Association.
Perlman says he is looking forward to assisting Waspa where needed.
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