VimpelCom announced on Monday the appointment of Jan Edvard Thygesen as the new Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Thygesen is currently the executive vice president and head of Central and Eastern European operations for Telenor. He is expected to take on his new role in January 1. Following successful post acquisition integration of the operations of VimpleCom and Wind Telecom, the current VimpelCom COO, Khaled Bicharra, will be stepping down as planned. “Khaled informed me some time ago that he would be stepping down from VimpelCom at the end of the year with the successful integration of VimpelCom and Wind Telecom,” Jo Lunder, CimpelCom Group CEO said. “Khaled has played an instrumental role in the merger and securing the targeted synergies within the enlarged business. I express our sincere gratitude to Khaled for his dedication and achievements within the group and wish him continued success in his future endeavors.” “I am pleased to welcome Jan Edvard in his new position as Deputy CEO and Chief Operating Officer,” Lunder said. Jan Edvard knows VimpelCom well, having served as a member of our board. He has extensive operational experience in all aspects of the telecom industry, which will help us deliver on our new strategy and further operational excellence throughout the company. With Jan Edvard as a member of our senior executive team, I am very positive about our future and believe that we have both the right strategy and the right management in place to create shareholders value in VimpelCom by increased focus on profitable growth, operational excellence and capital efficiency.” VimpelCom is one of the world's largest integrated communications services operators, providing many European and Asian markets with wireless, fixed, and broadband services. BM
