The pan-African operator, Celtel has announced that Lord Simon Cairns has been appointed Chairman of the Board. Lord Cairns, who is currently deputy Chairman of the Board, replaces Dr. Mo Ibrahim, who founded Celtel in 1998 and is stepping down to focus on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. Dr Ibrahim will also be concerned with the newly established Africa Enterprise Fund, which invests in African businesses outside the field of telecommunications.
Dr. Saad Al Barrak, Managing Director and Deputy Chairman of the MTC Group (which owns Celtel) commented: "On behalf of everyone at MTC, we welcome Lord Cairns and we would like to thank Mo from the bottom of our hearts for his leadership, guidance and wisdom he has offered us over the past two and a half years as Chairman of Celtel's Board. As one of the recognized leaders in the field of mobile telecommunications and pre-eminent businessmen in Africa we are thankful for his leadership in growing the mobile business in Africa and we trust that his new endeavors will contribute to the development of the African continent."
Celtel
International is one of Africa's leading mobile operators serving over
21 million customers across 14 sub-Saharan nations. In April 2005, MTC
Kuwait acquired Celtel for US$ 3.4 billion and asked Mo Ibrahim to
remain the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Celtel International
to make best use of his knowledge of telecommunications and passion for
developing the African continent.
Lord Cairns career has seen him serve as Chairman
of Actis Capital; CDC Group; Commonwealth Business Council; the
Overseas Development Institute; Allied Zurich as well as Deputy
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of SG Warburg.
Posted to the site on 6th September 2007
Posted to: www.cellular-news.com/story/25888.php